1 ¶ 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,

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2 t o 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;

to 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;

3 w ithout 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.

without 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.

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

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

5 A nd 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;

And 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:

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

but he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises.

7 A nd without any contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

But without any dispute the less is blessed of the better.

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

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

9 A nd as I may so say, Levi also, who received tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.

And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes;

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 Melchizedek met him.

11 ¶ 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?

Now 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?

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

For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

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

For he of whom these things are said belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance at the altar.

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

For it is evident that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah; as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness

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

(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God.

20 A nd even more, inasmuch as it is not without an oath

And inasmuch as it is not without the taking of an oath

21 ( 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);

(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);

22 b y so much better testament is Jesus made surety.

by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.

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

And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing:

24 b ut this man, because he continues forever, has the intransmissible priesthood.

but he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable.

25 T herefore 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.

Wherefore 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.

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

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

27 w ho 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.

who 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.

28 F or 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.

For 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.