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 Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of 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 also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, 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 made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

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

Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest 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 those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from 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 the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.

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

But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

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

In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.

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

And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes,

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

for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek 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?

Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?

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

For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place 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 the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at 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 evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

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

And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,

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

who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.

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

For it is attested of Him, “ You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

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

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

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 made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

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

And inasmuch as it was not without 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 indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “ The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind, ‘ You are a priest forever ’”);

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

so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee 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:

The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,

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

but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.

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.

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

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

For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above 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 does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He 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 appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.