1 F or every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in things relating to God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

2 H e is able to exercise gentleness and forbearance toward the ignorant and erring, since he himself also is liable to moral weakness and physical infirmity.

who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

3 A nd because of this he is obliged to offer sacrifice for his own sins, as well as for those of the people.

And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

4 B esides, one does not appropriate for himself the honor, but he is called by God and receives it of Him, just as Aaron did.

And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

5 S o too Christ (the Messiah) did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed and exalted by Him Who said to Him, You are My Son; today I have begotten You;

So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

6 A s He says also in another place, You are a Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek.

As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

7 I n the days of His flesh offered up definite, special petitions '> but needed] and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God '> in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father].

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

8 A lthough He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered

though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9 A nd, making Him perfectly, He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him,

and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

10 B eing designated and recognized and saluted by God as High Priest after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek.

called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

11 C oncerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your hearing and sluggish '> slothful in achieving spiritual insight].

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

12 F or even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God’s Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food.

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 F or everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant!

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 B ut solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.