1 ¶ For every high priest is taken from among men, constituted on behalf of men in things relating to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins,

For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;

2 w ho can have compassion on the ignorant and on those that are in error; for he himself is also compassed with weakness.

he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness;

3 A nd by reason of this he ought, as for the people so also for himself, to offer for sins.

and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself.

4 A nd no one takes this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.

5 S o also the Christ did not glorify himself to make himself high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son; today have I begotten thee.

So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, “ You are My Son, Today I have begotten You ”;

6 A s he said also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

just as He says also in another passage, “ You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

7 W ho in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, was heard because of his reverent fear;

In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.

8 a lthough he was the Son of God, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered;

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.

9 a nd being made perfect, he became the author of eternal saving health unto all those that hearken unto him,

And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,

10 ¶ named by God high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

11 O f whom we have many things to say and difficult to declare, seeing ye are hard of hearing.

Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

12 F or you should now be teaching others, if we look at the time, yet you need to be taught again which are the first elements of the oracles of God and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong food.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

13 F or any one that uses milk is not qualified in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

14 B ut strong food belongs to those that are perfect, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.