1 F or this Melchizedek, 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 God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2 t o whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,”

to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness, and then 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, remains a priest continually.

without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God), abideth a priest continually.

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

Now consider how great this man was, unto whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the chief spoils.

5 A nd indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham;

And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest's office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham:

6 b ut he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

but he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises.

7 N ow beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.

But without any dispute the less is blessed of the better.

8 H ere mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.

And here men that die receive tithes; but there one, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

9 E ven Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak,

And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes;

10 f or he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. Need for a New Priesthood

for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

11 T herefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?

Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron?

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

For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

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

For he of whom these things are said belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance at the altar.

14 F or it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

For it is evident that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah; as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests.

15 A nd it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest

And what we say is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest,

16 w ho has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.

who hath been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life:

17 F or He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

for it is witnessed of him, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.

18 F or on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness,

For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness

19 f or the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. Greatness of the New Priest

(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God.

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

And inasmuch as it is not without the taking of an oath

21 ( for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The L ord has sworn And will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’” ),

(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him that saith of him, The Lord sware and will not repent himself, Thou art a priest for ever);

22 b y so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.

23 A lso there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.

And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing:

24 B ut He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

but he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable.

25 T herefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

26 F or such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;

For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27 w ho does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

who needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people: for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself.

28 F or the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

For the law appointeth men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, appointeth a Son, perfected for evermore.