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

For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in things relating to God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

2 H e can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.

He is able to exercise gentleness and forbearance toward the ignorant and erring, since he himself also is liable to moral weakness and physical infirmity.

3 B ecause of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.

And because of this he is obliged to offer sacrifice for his own sins, as well as for those of the people.

4 A nd no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. A Priest Forever

Besides, one does not appropriate for himself the honor, but he is called by God and receives it of Him, just as Aaron did.

5 S o also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.”

So too Christ (the Messiah) did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed and exalted by Him Who said to Him, You are My Son; today I have begotten You;

6 A s He also says in another place: “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 (with the rank) of Melchizedek.

7 w ho, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,

In the days of His flesh offered up definite, special petitions '> but needed] and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God '> in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father].

8 t hough He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered

9 A nd having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

And, making Him perfectly, He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him,

10 c alled by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”

Being designated and recognized and saluted by God as High Priest after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek.

11 o f whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. Spiritual Immaturity

Concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your hearing and sluggish '> slothful in achieving spiritual insight].

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

For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God’s Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food.

13 F or everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant!

14 B ut solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.