20WHERE [THE] FORERUNNER FOR US HAS ENTERED JESUS ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK A HIGH PRIEST HAVING BECOME TO THE AGE. 20where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
1THIS FOR <THE> MELCHIZEDEK, KING OF SALEM, PRIEST <THE> OF GOD <THE> MOST HIGH, WHO HAVING MET WITH ABRAHAM RETURNING FROM THE SLAUGHTER OF THE KINGS AND HAVING BLESSED HIM, Melchizedek and Abraham (Genesis 14:17–24) 1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High.*NoteCloseGenesis 14:18 He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2TO WHOM ALSO A TENTH OF ALL APPORTIONED ABRAHAM, FIRST INDEED BEING TRANSLATED KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THEN HOWEVER ALSO KING OF SALEM, WHICH IS KING OF PEACE, 2and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness. ” Then also, “king of Salem ” means “king of peace. ”
3WITHOUT FATHER, WITHOUT MOTHER, WITHOUT GENEALOGY, NEITHER BEGINNING OF DAYS NOR OF LIFE END HAVING, MADE LIKE HOWEVER AS THE SON <THE> OF GOD HE REMAINS A PRIEST UNTO <THE> ALL TIME. 3Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.
4DO CONSIDER NOW HOW GREAT THIS ONE [WAS], TO WHOM EVEN A TENTH ABRAHAM GAVE OUT OF THE BEST SPOILS THE PATRIARCH. 4Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.
5AND THOSE INDEED OUT FROM THE SONS OF LEVI THE PRIESTLY OFFICE RECEIVING A COMMANDMENT HAVE TO TAKE A TENTH FROM THE PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THE LAW, THAT IS FROM THE BROTHERS OF THEM, THOUGH HAVING COME OUT OF THE LOIN OF ABRAHAM. 5Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people— that is, from their brothers— though they too are descended from Abraham.
6THE [ONE] HOWEVER NOT TRACING HIS ANCESTRY FROM THEM HE HAS COLLECTED A TENTH <THE> FROM ABRAHAM; AND THE [ONE WHO] IS HAVING THE PROMISES HE HAS BLESSED. 6But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7APART FROM NOW ALL DISPUTE; THE INFERIOR BY THE SUPERIOR IS BLESSED. 7And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8AND HERE INDEED TITHES DYING MEN RECEIVE IN THAT PLACE HOWEVER IT IS TESTIFIED THAT HE LIVES ON. 8In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on.
9AND SO A WORD TO SPEAK; THROUGH ABRAHAM ALSO LEVI THE [ONE] TITHES RECEIVING HAS PAID THE TITHE. 9And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.
10STILL FOR IN THE LOIN <THE> OF [HIS] FATHER HE WAS WHEN HE MET WITH HIM <THE> MELCHIZEDEK. 10For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.
11IF INDEED THEN PERFECTION THROUGH THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD WERE — THE PEOPLE FOR UPON IT HAS RECEIVED [THE] LAW — WHAT STILL NEED [WAS THERE] ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK [FOR] ANOTHER TO ARISE PRIEST AND NOT ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF AARON TO BE NAMED? A Superior Priesthood 11Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear— one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?
12WHEN IS BEING CHANGED FOR THE PRIESTHOOD FROM NECESSITY ALSO OF LAW A CHANGE TAKES PLACE. 12For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.
13[HE] CONCERNING WHOM FOR ARE SPOKEN THESE THINGS TO A TRIBE ANOTHER HAS BELONGED TO, FROM WHICH NO [ONE] HAS SERVED AT THE ALTAR. 13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
14[IT IS] EVIDENT FOR THAT OUT OF JUDAH HAS SPRUNG THE LORD OF US AS TO WHICH A TRIBE CONCERNING PRIESTS NO [THING] MOSES SPOKE. 14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.
15AND MORE EXCESSIVE YET EVIDENT IT IS, IF ACCORDING TO THE LIKENESS OF MELCHIZEDEK ARISES A PRIEST ANOTHER, 15And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,
16WHO NOT ACCORDING TO A LAW OF A COMMANDMENT FLESHLY HAS BEEN CONSTITUTED BUT ACCORDING TO [THE] POWER OF A LIFE INDESTRUCTIBLE; 16one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.
17IT IS TESTIFIED FOR THAT YOU [ARE] A PRIEST TO THE AGE ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK. 17For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”*NoteClosePsalm 110:4
18A PUTTING AWAY INDEED FOR THERE IS WHILE IS PRECEDING [THE] COMMANDMENT BECAUSE OF <THE> ITS WEAKNESS AND USELESSNESS — 18So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless
19NO [THING] FOR PERFECTED THE LAW — [THE] INTRODUCTION THEN OF A BETTER HOPE THROUGH WHICH WE DRAW NEAR <THE> TO GOD. 19for the law made nothing perfect and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20AND TO AS MUCH AS NOT APART FROM AN OATH. [21] THOSE ONES TRULY FOR WITHOUT AN OATH ARE PRIESTS HAVING BECOME, 20And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,
21[HE] HOWEVER WITH AN OATH THROUGH THE [ONE] WHO IS SAYING TO HIM: HAS SWORN [THE] LORD AND NOT WILL CHANGE HIS MIND; YOU [ARE] A PRIEST TO THE AGE ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK; 21but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’”*NoteClosePsalm 110:4
22BY SO MUCH ALSO OF A BETTER COVENANT HAS BECOME [THE] GUARANTEE JESUS. 22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23AND THOSE INDEED MANY ARE HAVING BECOME PRIESTS BECAUSE OF <THE> BY DEATH BEING PREVENTED FROM CONTINUING; 23Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.
24<THE> HOWEVER BECAUSE OF THE ABIDING OF HIM TO THE AGE A PERMANENT HE HOLDS <THE> PRIESTHOOD; 24But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.
25WHEREFORE ALSO TO SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST HE IS ABLE THOSE DRAWING NEAR THROUGH HIM <THE> TO GOD ALWAYS LIVING FOR <THE> TO INTERCEDE FOR THEM. 25Therefore He is able to save completely*NoteCloseOr forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
26SUCH INDEED FOR US ALSO WAS FITTING A HIGH PRIEST, HOLY, INNOCENT, UNDEFILED, SEPARATED FROM <THE> SINNERS, AND HIGHER THAN THE HEAVENS HAVING BECOME; 26Such a high priest truly befits us— One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27WHO NOT HAS EVERY DAY NEED AS THE HIGH PRIESTS FIRST FOR <THE> [THEIR] OWN SINS SACRIFICES TO OFFER UP THEN FOR THOSE OF THE PEOPLE; THIS FOR HE DID ONCE FOR ALL HIMSELF HAVING OFFERED UP. 27Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.
28THE LAW FOR MEN APPOINTS AS HIGH PRIESTS HAVING WEAKNESS, THE WORD HOWEVER OF THE OATH WHICH [IS] AFTER THE LAW A SON TO THE AGE PERFECTED. 28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.