Hebrews 5

1 For every high priest taken from among men, is ordained for men in the things that appertain to God, that he may offer up gifts and sacrifices for sins:

For every High Priest is chosen from among men, and is appointed to act on behalf of men in matters relating to God, in order to offer both gifts and sin-offerings,

2 Who can have compassion on them that are ignorant and that err: because he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

and must be one who is able to bear patiently with the ignorant and erring, because he himself also is beset with infirmity.

3 And therefore he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

And for this reason he is required to offer sin-offerings not only for the people but also for himself.

4 Neither doth any man take the honour to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was.

And no one takes this honourable office upon himself, but only accepts it when called to it by God, as Aaron was.

5 So Christ also did not glorify himself, that he might be made a high priest: but he that said unto him: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

So Christ also did not claim for Himself the honour of being made High Priest, but was appointed to it by Him who said to Him, "My Son art Thou: I have to-day become Thy Father;"

6 As he saith also in another place: Thou art a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech. (aiōn g165)

as also in another passage He says, "Thou art a priest for ever, belonging to the order of Melchizedek." (aiōn g165)

7 Who in the days of his flesh, with a strong cry and tears, offering up prayers and supplications to him that was able to save him from death, was heard for his reverence.

For Jesus during his earthly life offered up prayers and entreaties, crying aloud and weeping as He pleaded with Him who was able to bring Him in safety out of death, and He was delivered from the terror from which He shrank.

8 And whereas indeed he was the Son of God, he learned obedience by the things which he suffered:

Although He was God's Son, yet He learned obedience from the sufferings which He endured;

9 And being consummated, he became, to all that obey him, the cause of eternal salvation. (aiōnios g166)

and so, having been made perfect, He became to all who obey Him the source and giver of eternal salvation. (aiōnios g166)

10 Called by God a high priest according to the order of Melchisedech.

For God Himself addresses Him as a High Priest for ever, belonging to the order of Melchizedek.

11 Of whom we have much to say, and hard to be intelligibly uttered: because you are become weak to hear.

Concerning Him we have much to say, and much that it would be difficult to make clear to you, since you have become so dull of apprehension.

12 For whereas for the time you ought to be masters, you have need to be taught again what are the first elements of the words of God: and you are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

For although, considering the long time you have been believers, you ought now to be teachers of others, you really need some one to teach you over again the very rudiments of the truths of God, and you have come to require milk instead of solid food.

13 For every one that is a partaker of milk, is unskillful in the word of justice: for he is a little child.

By people who live on milk I mean those who are imperfectly acquainted with the teaching concerning righteousness.

14 But strong meat is for the perfect; for them who by custom have their senses exercised to the discerning of good and evil.

Such persons are mere babes. But solid food is for adults--that is, for those who through constant practice have their spiritual faculties carefully trained to distinguish good from evil.