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 Melchizedek, 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 also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “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 genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains 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 man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a 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 indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from 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 genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

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

Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.

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

Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives 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.

Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak,

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

for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. Need for a New Priesthood

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?

Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to 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 changed, of necessity there is also a change 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 belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated 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 evident that our Lord arose from Judah, 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 evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest

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

who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.

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

For He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

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

For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness,

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; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. Greatness of the New Priest

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

And inasmuch as He was not made priest 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 they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The L ord has sworn And will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’” ),

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

by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

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

Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.

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

But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable 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 also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always 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 such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become 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 does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all 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 appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.