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, being taken from among men, is appointed 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.

The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded 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.

Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for himself.

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.

Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.

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 didn’t glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father.”

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

As he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

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].

He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,

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

though he was a Son, yet 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,

Having been made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation,

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

named by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

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].

About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become 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 although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid 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 everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.

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 solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.