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 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 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 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, remains 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, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the 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 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 whose descent is not counted in those took tithes from Abraham and blessed him that had the promises.

but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

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

Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by 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.

Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.

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

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 ¶ 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?

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 transposed, there is made of necessity a translation also of the law.

For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change 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 spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man 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 arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

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

And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises 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 has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to 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 He testifies: “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 an annulling of the former 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; 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 even more, inasmuch as it is not without an oath

And inasmuch as He was not made priest 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 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 better testament is Jesus made surety.

by so much more Jesus has become a 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:

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

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

But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

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 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 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 was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become 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 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 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 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.