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 the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was 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 apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, 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 the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

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

Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest 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 those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.

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

But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.

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

But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

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.

In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.

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

And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes,

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.

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 perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?

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

For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.

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

For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated 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 was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

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

And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,

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

who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.

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

For it is attested of Him, “ You are a priest forever According to 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, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

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

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

And inasmuch as it was not without 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 became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “ The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind, ‘ You are a priest forever ’”);

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

so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

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

The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,

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

but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.

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.

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives 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 it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above 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 does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because 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 appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.