1 F or this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

¶ For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2 t o whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

to whom Abraham also gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is King of peace;

3 w ithout father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

without father, without mother, without lineage, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God; abides a priest continually.

4 N ow consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

Now consider how great this one was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

5 A nd verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

And verily those that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they also have come out of the loins of Abraham;

6 b ut he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

but he whose descent is not counted in those took tithes from Abraham and blessed him that had the promises.

7 A nd without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

And without any contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

8 A nd here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

In the same manner, here men that die take tithes; but there he received them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.

9 A nd as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

And as I may so say, Levi also, who received tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.

10 F or he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

11 I f therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

¶ If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec and not be called after the order of Aaron?

12 F or the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

For the priesthood being transposed, there is made of necessity a translation also of the law.

13 F or he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

For he of whom these things are spoken pertains to another tribe, of which no one presided at the altar.

14 F or it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

For it is manifest that our Lord sprang out of Juda, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

15 A nd it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

And it is yet far more manifest: if there arises another priest who is like unto Melchisedec,

16 w ho is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

who is not made according to the law of a carnal commandment, but by the virtue of an indissoluble life;

17 F or he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

for the testimony is of this manner, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

18 F or there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness of it;

19 F or the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

for the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did, by which we draw near unto God.

20 A nd inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

And even more, inasmuch as it is not without an oath

21 ( for those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

(for the others indeed without an oath were made priests, but this one with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord swore and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec);

22 b y so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

by so much better testament is Jesus made surety.

23 A nd they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

And the others, truly, were many priests because they were not able to continue by reason of death:

24 b ut this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

but this man, because he continues forever, has the intransmissible priesthood.

25 W herefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Therefore he is able also to save to the uttermost those that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.

26 F or such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

For it was expedient that we have such a high priest, who is holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens,

27 w ho needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

who needs not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins and then for the people’s; for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

28 F or the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

For the law makes men high priests who have weakness; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, has made perfect a Son forever.