Hebrews 5

1 For every chief priest taken out of men is set in things [pertaining] to God in behalf of men, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins,

Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

2 being able to be gentle to those being ignorant and going astray, since he is also surrounded with weakness;

He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness.

3 and because of this [weakness] he ought, just as for the people, so also for himself, to bring forward [sacrifices] for sins;

That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

4 and no one takes the honor to himself, but he who is called by God, as also Aaron.

No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.

5 So also the Christ did not glorify Himself to become Chief Priest, but He who spoke to Him: “You are My Son, today I have begotten You”;

So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.”

6 just as He also says in another [place], “You [are] a priest throughout the age, according to the order of Melchizedek”; (aiōn g165)

And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” (aiōn g165)

7 who in the days of His flesh having offered up both prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and having been heard in respect to that which He feared,

During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.

8 though being a Son, [He] learned obedience by the things which He suffered,

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.

9 and having been made perfect, He became the cause of continuous salvation to all those obeying Him, (aiōnios g166)

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

10 having been called by God a Chief Priest according to the order of Melchizedek,

and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

11 concerning the Word, of whom we have much [to speak], and of hard explanation to say, since you have become dull of hearing,

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.

12 for even owing to be teachers, because of the time, again you have need that one teach you what [are] the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God, and you have become having need of milk, and not of strong food,

Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!

13 for everyone who is partaking of milk [is] unskilled in the word of righteousness—for he is an infant,

For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness.

14 and the strong food is of perfect men, who because of the use are having the senses exercised, to both the discernment of good and of evil.

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.