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 Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who did meet Abraham turning back from the smiting of the kings, and did bless 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 a tenth of all did Abraham divide, (first, indeed, being interpreted, `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, and being made like to the Son of God, doth remain a priest continually.

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

And see how great this one, to whom also a tenth Abraham the patriarch did give out of the best of the 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 those, indeed, out of the sons of Levi receiving the priesthood, a command have to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, their brethren, even though they came forth 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.

and he who was not reckoned by genealogy of them, received tithes from Abraham, and him having the promises he hath blessed,

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

and apart from all controversy, the less by the better is blessed --

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

and here, indeed, men who die do receive tithes, and there, who is testified to that he was living,

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

and so to speak, through Abraham even Levi who is receiving 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 the father when Melchisedek 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?

If indeed, then, perfection were through the Levitical priesthood -- for the people under it had received law -- what further need, according to the order of Melchisedek, for another priest to arise, and not to be called according to 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, of necessity also, of the law a change doth come,

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 in another tribe hath had part, of whom no one gave 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 evident that out of Judah hath arisen our Lord, in regard to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

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

And it is yet more abundantly most evident, if according to the similitude of Melchisedek there doth arise 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 came not according to the law of a fleshly command, but according to the power of an endless life,

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

for He doth testify -- `Thou a priest -- to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;'

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

for a disannulling indeed doth come of the command going before 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 nothing did the law perfect) and the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw nigh to God.

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

And inasmuch as not apart from oath, (for those indeed apart from oath are become priests,

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’” ),

and he with an oath through Him who is saying unto him, `The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou a priest -- to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;')

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

by so much of a better covenant hath Jesus become surety,

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

and those indeed are many who have become priests, because by death they are hindered from remaining;

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

and he, because of his remaining -- to the age, hath the priesthood not transient,

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.

whence also he is able to save to the very end, those coming through him unto God -- ever living 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 chief priest did become us -- kind, harmless, undefiled, separate from the sinners, and become 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 hath no necessity daily, as the chief priests, first for his own sins to offer up sacrifice, then for those of the people; for this he did once, having 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 doth appoint men chief priests, having infirmity, but the word of the oath that after the law the Son -- to the age having been perfected.