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 God Most High, who met Abraham returning 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,)

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, and being made like to the Son of God, doth remain 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 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 consider how great this man was, unto whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the chief 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 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 a nd he who was not reckoned by genealogy of them, received tithes from Abraham, and him having the promises he hath blessed,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

for he was yet in the loins of his father, 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 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 also, of the law a change doth come,

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 said in another tribe hath had part, of whom no one gave attendance 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 evident that out of Judah hath arisen our Lord, in regard to which tribe Moses spake 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 more abundantly most evident, if according to the similitude of Melchisedek there doth arise another priest,

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

16 w ho came not according to the law of a fleshly command, 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 doth testify -- `Thou a priest -- to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;'

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

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

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

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

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

And inasmuch as it is 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 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 of a better covenant hath Jesus become surety,

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 chief priest did become us -- kind, harmless, undefiled, separate from the sinners, and 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 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;

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