1 F or this Melchisedec, King of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from smiting the kings, and blessed him;

¶ For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2 t o 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;

to whom Abraham also gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that 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 assimilated to the Son of God, abides a priest continually.

without father, without mother, without lineage, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God; abides a priest continually.

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

Now consider how great this one was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

5 A nd 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:

And verily those that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they also have come out of the loins of Abraham;

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

but he whose descent is not counted in those took tithes from Abraham and blessed him that had the promises.

7 B ut beyond all gainsaying, the inferior is blessed by the better.

And without any contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

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

In the same manner, here men that die take tithes; but there he received them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.

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

And as I may so say, Levi also, who received tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.

10 F or he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchisedec met him.

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

11 I f 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?

¶ If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec and not be called after the order of Aaron?

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

For the priesthood being transposed, there is made of necessity a translation also of the law.

13 F or 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.

For he of whom these things are spoken pertains to another tribe, of which no one presided at the altar.

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

For it is manifest that our Lord sprang out of Juda, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

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

And it is yet far more manifest: if there arises another priest who is like unto Melchisedec,

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

who is not made according to the law of a carnal commandment, but by the virtue of an indissoluble life;

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

for the testimony is of this manner, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

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

For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness of it;

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

for the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did, by which we draw near unto God.

20 A nd by how much not without the swearing of an oath;

And even more, inasmuch as it is not without an oath

21 ( 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;)

(for the others indeed without an oath were made priests, but this one with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord swore and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec);

22 b y so much Jesus became surety of a better covenant.

by so much better testament is Jesus made surety.

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

And the others, truly, were many priests because they were not able to continue by reason of death:

24 b ut he, because of his continuing for ever, has the priesthood unchangeable.

but this man, because he continues forever, has the intransmissible priesthood.

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

Therefore he is able also to save to the uttermost those that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.

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

For it was expedient that we have such a high priest, who is holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens,

27 w ho 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.

who needs not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins and then for the people’s; for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

28 F or 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.

For the law makes men high priests who have weakness; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, has made perfect a Son forever.