1 F or 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,

¶ 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,

2 t o 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.

to 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;

3 W ithout 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.

without 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.

4 N ow observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.

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

5 A nd 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.

And 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;

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

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

7 B ut without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

And without any contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

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

In the same manner, here men that die take tithes; but there he received them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.

9 A nd, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes,

And as I may so say, Levi also, who received tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.

10 f or he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

11 N ow 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?

¶ 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?

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

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

13 F or the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.

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

14 F or it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

For it is manifest that our Lord sprang out of Juda, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

15 A nd this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,

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

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

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

17 F or it is attested of Him, “ You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

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

18 F or, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

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

19 ( 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.

for the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did, by which we draw near unto God.

20 A nd inasmuch as it was not without an oath

And even more, inasmuch as it is not without an oath

21 ( 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 ’”);

(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);

22 s o much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

by so much better testament is Jesus made surety.

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

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

24 b ut Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.

but this man, because he continues forever, has the intransmissible priesthood.

25 T herefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Therefore 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.

26 F or it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;

For it was expedient that we have such a high priest, who is holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens,

27 w ho 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.

who 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.

28 F or 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.

For 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.