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 Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who did meet Abraham turning back from the smiting of the kings, and did bless 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 a tenth of all did Abraham divide, (first, indeed, being interpreted, `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, and being made like to the Son of God, doth remain a priest continually.

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

And see how great this one, to whom also a tenth Abraham the patriarch did give out of the best 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 those, indeed, out of the sons of Levi receiving the priesthood, a command have to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, their brethren, even though they came forth 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.

and he who was not reckoned by genealogy of them, received tithes from Abraham, and him having the promises he hath blessed,

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

and apart from all controversy, the less by the better is blessed --

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, indeed, men who die do receive tithes, and there, who is testified to that he was living,

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 is receiving 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 the father when Melchisedek 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?

If indeed, then, perfection were through the Levitical priesthood -- for the people under it had received law -- what further need, according to the order of Melchisedek, for another priest to arise, and not to 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 also, of the law a change doth come,

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 in another tribe hath had part, of whom no one gave 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 evident that out of Judah hath arisen our Lord, in regard to which tribe Moses spake 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 more abundantly most evident, if according to the similitude of Melchisedek there doth arise 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 came not according to the law of a fleshly command, 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 doth testify -- `Thou a priest -- to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;'

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

for a disannulling indeed doth come of the command going before 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 nothing did the law perfect) and the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw nigh to God.

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

And inasmuch as not apart from oath, (for those indeed apart from oath are become priests,

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);

and he with an oath through Him who is saying unto him, `The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou a priest -- to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;')

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

by so much of a better covenant hath Jesus become surety,

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

and those indeed are many who have become priests, because by death they are hindered from remaining;

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

and he, because of his remaining -- to the age, hath the priesthood not transient,

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.

whence also he is able to save to the very end, those coming through him unto God -- ever living 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 chief priest did become us -- kind, harmless, undefiled, separate from the sinners, and 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 hath no necessity daily, as the chief priests, first for his own sins to offer up sacrifice, then for those of the people; for this he did once, having 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 doth appoint men chief priests, having infirmity, but the word of the oath that after the law the Son -- to the age having been perfected.