1 F or this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, 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 smiting the kings, and blessed him;

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

to whom Abraham gave also the tenth portion of all; first being interpreted King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is King of peace;

3 w ithout father, without mother, without genealogy, 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 genealogy; having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but assimilated to the Son of God, abides a priest continually.

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

Now consider how great this was, to whom the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth out of the spoils.

5 A nd they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest's office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham:

And they indeed from among the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is from their brethren, though these are come out of the loins of Abraham:

6 b ut he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises.

but he who has no genealogy from them has tithed Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises.

7 B ut without any dispute the less is blessed of the better.

But beyond all gainsaying, the inferior is blessed by the better.

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

And here dying men receive tithes; but there of whom the witness is that he lives;

9 A nd, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes;

and, so to speak, through Abraham, Levi also, who received tithes, has been made to pay tithes.

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

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

11 N ow if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron?

If indeed then perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, for the people had their law given to them in connexion with it, what need still that a different priest should arise according to the order of Melchisedec, and not be named 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 changed, there takes place of necessity a change of law also.

13 F or he of whom these things are said belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance at the altar.

For he, of whom these things are said, belongs to a different tribe, of which no one has been attached to the service of the altar.

14 F or it is evident that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah; as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests.

For it is clear that our Lord has sprung out of Juda, as to which tribe Moses spake nothing as to priests.

15 A nd what we say is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest,

And it is yet more abundantly evident, since a different priest arises according to the similitude of Melchisedec,

16 w ho hath been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life:

who has been constituted not according to law of fleshly commandment, but according to power of indissoluble life.

17 f or it is witnessed of him, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.

For it is borne witness, Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedec.

18 F or there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness

For there is a setting aside of the commandment going before for its weakness and unprofitableness,

19 ( for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God.

(for the law perfected nothing,) and the introduction of a better hope by which we draw nigh to God.

20 A nd inasmuch as it is not without the taking of an oath

And by how much not without the swearing of an oath;

21 ( for they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him that saith of him, The Lord sware and will not repent himself, Thou art a priest for ever);

(for they are become priests without the swearing of an oath, but he with the swearing of an oath, by him who said, as to him, The Lord has sworn, and will not repent, Thou priest for ever;)

22 b y so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.

by so much Jesus became surety of a better covenant.

23 A nd they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing:

And they have been many priests, on account of being hindered from continuing by death;

24 b ut he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable.

but he, because of his continuing for ever, has the priesthood unchangeable.

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

Whence also he is able to save completely those who approach by him to God, always living to intercede for them.

26 F or such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

For such a high priest became us, holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and become higher than the heavens:

27 w ho needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people: for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself.

who has not day by day need, as the high priests, first to offer up sacrifices for his own sins, then those of the people; for this he did once for all having offered up himself.

28 F or the law appointeth men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, appointeth a Son, perfected for evermore.

For the law constitutes men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the swearing of the oath which after the law, a Son perfected for ever.