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 is taken from among men, constituted on behalf of men in things relating 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 those that are in error; for he himself is also compassed with weakness.

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 of this 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 one takes 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 the Christ did not glorify himself to make himself high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son; today 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 said 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, was heard because of his reverent fear;

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

although he was the Son of God, yet he learned 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 saving health unto all those that hearken unto him,

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

¶ named by God 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 difficult to declare, seeing ye are hard 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 you should now be teaching others, if we look at the time, yet you need to be taught again which are the first elements of the oracles of God and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong food.

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 any one that uses milk is not qualified 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 food belongs to those that are perfect, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.