1 F or 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, met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2 T o whom also Abraham 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;

And Abraham gave to him a tenth portion of all. He is primarily, as his name when translated indicates, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, which means king of peace.

3 W ithout father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Without father or mother or ancestral line, neither with beginning of days nor ending of life, but, resembling the Son of God, he continues to be a priest without interruption and without successor.

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

Now observe and consider how great this was to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils.

5 A nd verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

And it is true that those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to take tithes from the people—which means, from their brethren—though these have descended from Abraham.

6 B ut he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

But this person who has not their Levitical ancestry received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who possessed the promises.

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

Yet it is beyond all contradiction that it is the lesser person who is blessed by the greater one.

8 A nd here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

Furthermore, here tithes are received by men who are subject to death; while there, they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives.

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

A person might even say that Levi himself, who received tithes (the tenth), paid tithes through Abraham,

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 forefather when Melchizedek met him.

11 I f 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 (a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper) had been attainable by the Levitical priesthood—for under it the people were given the Law—why was it further necessary that there should arise another and different kind of Priest, one after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed after the order and rank of Aaron?

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

For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is of necessity an alteration of the law as well.

13 F or he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

For the One of Whom these things are said belonged to another tribe, no member of which has officiated at the altar.

14 F or it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

For it is obvious that our Lord sprang from the tribe of Judah, and Moses mentioned nothing about priests in connection with that tribe.

15 A nd it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

And this becomes more plainly evident when another Priest arises Who bears the likeness of Melchizedek,

16 W ho is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

Who has been constituted a Priest, not on the basis of a bodily legal requirement, but on the basis of the power of an endless and indestructible Life.

17 F or he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

For it is witnessed of Him, You are a Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek.

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

So a previous physical regulation and command is cancelled because of its weakness and ineffectiveness and uselessness—

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

For the Law never made anything perfect—but instead a better hope is introduced through which we come close to God.

20 A nd inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

And it was not without the taking of an oath,

21 ( For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

For those who formerly became priests received their office without its being confirmed by the taking of an oath by God, but this One was designated and addressed and saluted with an oath, The Lord has sworn and will not regret it or change His mind, You are a Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

22 B y so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

In keeping with, Jesus has become the Guarantee of a better (stronger) agreement.

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

was made up of many, because they were each prevented by death from continuing;

24 B ut this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

But He holds His priesthood unchangeably, because He lives on forever.

25 W herefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them.

26 F or such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

the High Priest to our needs, as was fitting—holy, blameless, unstained by sin, separated from sinners, and exalted higher than the heavens.

27 W ho needeth 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.

He has no day by day necessity, as high priests, to offer sacrifice first of all for his own sins and then for those of the people, because He once for all when He brought Himself which He offered up.

28 F or the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

For the Law sets up men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of oath, which after the institution of the Law,, a Son Who has been made perfect forever.