1 ¶ Porque todo sumo sacerdote es tomado de los hombres, constituido en lugar de los hombres en lo que a Dios toca, para que ofrezca presentes y sacrificios por los pecados;

For 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.

2 q ue se pueda compadecer de los ignorantes y errados, porque él también está rodeado de flaqueza;

He is able to exercise gentleness and forbearance toward the ignorant and erring, since he himself also is liable to moral weakness and physical infirmity.

3 p or causa de la cual debe, así también por sí mismo, como por el pueblo, ofrecer por los pecados.

And because of this he is obliged to offer sacrifice for his own sins, as well as for those of the people.

4 N i nadie toma para sí la honra, sino el que es llamado de Dios, como Aarón.

Besides, one does not appropriate for himself the honor, but he is called by God and receives it of Him, just as Aaron did.

5 A sí también el Cristo no se glorificó a sí mismo haciéndose Sumo Sacerdote, sino el que le dijo: Tú eres mi Hijo, yo te he engendrado hoy:

So 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;

6 C omo también dice en otro lugar: Tú eres Sacerdote para siempre, según el orden de Melquisedec.

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

7 E l cual en los días de su carne, ofreciendo ruegos y súplicas con gran clamor y lágrimas al que le podía librar de la muerte, fue oído por su temor reverente.

In 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].

8 Y aunque era el Hijo (de Dios,) por lo que padeció aprendió la obediencia;

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered

9 e n la cual consumado, fue hecho causa de eterna salud a todos los que le oigan;

And, making Him perfectly, He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him,

10 ¶ nombrado por Dios Sumo Sacerdote, según el orden de Melquisedec.

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

11 D el cual tenemos mucho que decir, y difícil de declarar, por cuanto sois tardos para oír.

Concerning 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].

12 P orque debiendo ser ya maestros de otros, si miramos el tiempo, tenéis necesidad de volver a ser enseñados, de cuáles sean los primeros elementos de los oráculos de Dios, y sois hechos tales que tenéis necesidad de leche, y no de mantenimiento firme.

For 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.

13 Q ue cualquiera que participa de la leche, es inhábil para la palabra de la justicia, porque es niño;

For 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!

14 m as de los perfectos es la vianda firme, es a saber de los que por la costumbre tienen ya los sentidos ejercitados en el discernimiento del bien y del mal.

But 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.