1 F or 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,

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2 t o 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,)

And Abraham gave to him a tenth portion of all. He is primarily, as his name when translated indicates, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, which means king of peace.

3 w ithout 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.

Without father or mother or ancestral line, neither with beginning of days nor ending of life, but, resembling the Son of God, he continues to be a priest without interruption and without successor.

4 A nd see how great this one, to whom also a tenth Abraham the patriarch did give out of the best of the spoils,

Now observe and consider how great this was to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils.

5 a nd 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;

And it is true that those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to take tithes from the people—which means, from their brethren—though these have descended from Abraham.

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

But this person who has not their Levitical ancestry received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who possessed the promises.

7 a nd apart from all controversy, the less by the better is blessed --

Yet it is beyond all contradiction that it is the lesser person who is blessed by the greater one.

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

Furthermore, here tithes are received by men who are subject to death; while there, they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives.

9 a nd so to speak, through Abraham even Levi who is receiving tithes, hath paid tithes,

A person might even say that Levi himself, who received tithes (the tenth), paid tithes through Abraham,

10 f or he was yet in the loins of the father when Melchisedek met him.

For he was still in the loins of his forefather when Melchizedek met him.

11 I f 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?

Now if perfection (a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper) had been attainable by the Levitical priesthood—for under it the people were given the Law—why was it further necessary that there should arise another and different kind of Priest, one after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed after the order and rank of Aaron?

12 f or the priesthood being changed, of necessity also, of the law a change doth come,

For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is of necessity an alteration of the law as well.

13 f or he of whom these things are said in another tribe hath had part, of whom no one gave attendance at the altar,

For the One of Whom these things are said belonged to another tribe, no member of which has officiated at the altar.

14 f or evident that out of Judah hath arisen our Lord, in regard to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

For it is obvious that our Lord sprang from the tribe of Judah, and Moses mentioned nothing about priests in connection with that tribe.

15 A nd it is yet more abundantly most evident, if according to the similitude of Melchisedek there doth arise another priest,

And this becomes more plainly evident when another Priest arises Who bears the likeness of Melchizedek,

16 w ho came not according to the law of a fleshly command, but according to the power of an endless life,

Who has been constituted a Priest, not on the basis of a bodily legal requirement, but on the basis of the power of an endless and indestructible Life.

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

For it is witnessed of Him, You are a Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek.

18 f or a disannulling indeed doth come of the command going before because of its weakness, and unprofitableness,

So a previous physical regulation and command is cancelled because of its weakness and ineffectiveness and uselessness—

19 ( for nothing did the law perfect) and the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw nigh to God.

For the Law never made anything perfect—but instead a better hope is introduced through which we come close to God.

20 A nd inasmuch as not apart from oath, (for those indeed apart from oath are become priests,

And it was not without the taking of an oath,

21 a nd 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;')

For those who formerly became priests received their office without its being confirmed by the taking of an oath by God, but this One was designated and addressed and saluted with an oath, The Lord has sworn and will not regret it or change His mind, You are a Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

22 b y so much of a better covenant hath Jesus become surety,

In keeping with, Jesus has become the Guarantee of a better (stronger) agreement.

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

was made up of many, because they were each prevented by death from continuing;

24 a nd he, because of his remaining -- to the age, hath the priesthood not transient,

But He holds His priesthood unchangeably, because He lives on forever.

25 w hence also he is able to save to the very end, those coming through him unto God -- ever living to make intercession for them.

Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them.

26 F or such a chief priest did become us -- kind, harmless, undefiled, separate from the sinners, and become higher than the heavens,

the High Priest to our needs, as was fitting—holy, blameless, unstained by sin, separated from sinners, and exalted higher than the heavens.

27 w ho 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;

He has no day by day necessity, as high priests, to offer sacrifice first of all for his own sins and then for those of the people, because He once for all when He brought Himself which He offered up.

28 f or 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.

For the Law sets up men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of oath, which after the institution of the Law,, a Son Who has been made perfect forever.