Hebrews 5

1 Every high priest is chosen from the people and is appointed to work for the people as they relate to God. He presents to God both their gifts and sacrifices for their sins.

For every high priest taken from amongst men is established for men in things relating to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;

2 The high priest understands how ignorant and deluded people feel because he also experiences the same kind of human weaknesses.

being able to exercise forbearance towards the ignorant and erring, since he himself also is clothed with infirmity;

3 As a result he has to offer sacrifices for his sins as well as for those of the people.

and, on account of this [infirmity], he ought, even as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

4 No one can take the position of high priest for himself; he must be chosen by God, just like Aaron was.

And no one takes the honour to himself but [as] called by God, even as Aaron also.

5 In just the same way Christ did not honor himself by becoming high priest. It was God who said to him, “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.”

Thus the Christ also has not glorified himself to be made a high priest; but he who had said to him, Thou art my Son, I have to-day begotten thee.

6 In another verse, God says, “You are a priest forever, following the order of Melchizedek.” (aiōn g165)

Even as also in another [place] he says, Thou [art] a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedec. (aiōn g165)

7 Jesus, while he was here in human form, prayed and appealed with loud cries and tears to God, the one who was able to save him from death. Jesus was heard because of his respect for God.

Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up both supplications and entreaties to him who was able to save him out of death, with strong crying and tears; (and having been heard because of his piety; )

8 Even though he was God's Son, Jesus learned through suffering what obedience really means.

though he were Son, he learned obedience from the things which he suffered;

9 When his experience was complete, he became the source of eternal salvation to everyone who does what he says, (aiōnios g166)

and having been perfected, became to all them that obey him, author of eternal salvation; (aiōnios g166)

10 having been designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

addressed by God [as] high priest according to the order of Melchisedec.

11 We have much to say about Jesus, and it's hard to explain because you don't seem able to understand!

Concerning whom we have much to say, and hard to be interpreted in speaking [of it], since ye are become dull in hearing.

12 By now you should have had enough time to become teachers, but you need someone to teach you the fundamentals, the first principles of God's word. It's like you need to go back to baby milk instead of solid food!

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have again need that [one] should teach you what [are] the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, [and] not of solid food.

13 Those who drink baby milk don't have the experience of living the right way—they're just babies.

For every one that partakes of milk [is] unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe;

14 Solid food is for grown-ups—those who by always using their brains have learned to tell the difference between good and evil.

but solid food belongs to full-grown men, who, on account of habit, have their senses exercised for distinguishing both good and evil.