1 F or every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;

For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

2 h e can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness;

The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness.

3 a nd because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself.

Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for himself.

4 A nd no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.

Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.

5 S o also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, “ You are My Son, Today I have begotten You ”;

So also Christ didn’t glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father.”

6 j ust as He says also in another passage, “ You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

As he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

7 I n the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.

He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,

8 A lthough He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.

though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered.

9 A nd having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,

Having been made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation,

10 b eing designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

named by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

11 C oncerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing.

12 F or though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food.

13 F or everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.

14 B ut solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.