Hebrews 7
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
For this man, Melchizedek, King of Salem and priest of the Most High God--he who when Abraham was returning after defeating the kings met him and pronounced a blessing on him--
2 to whom also Abraham divided "a tenth part of everything" (being first, by interpretation, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace;
to whom also Abraham presented a tenth part of all--being first, as his name signifies, King of righteousness, and secondly King of Salem, that is, King of peace:
3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains a priest continually.
with no father or mother, and no record of ancestry: having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made a type of the Son of God--this man Melchizedek remains a priest for ever.
4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the most valuable plunder.
Now think how great this priest-king must have been to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth part of the best of the spoil.
5 They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the Law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham,
And those of the descendants of Levi who receive the priesthood are authorized by the Law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brethren, though these have sprung from Abraham.
6 but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.
But, in this instance, one who does not trace his origin from them takes tithes from Abraham, and pronounces a blessing on him to whom the promises belong.
7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.
And beyond all dispute it is always the inferior who is blessed by the superior.
8 Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives.
Moreover here frail mortal men receive tithes: there one receives them about whom there is evidence that he is alive.
9 We can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,
And Levi too--if I may so speak--pays tithes through Abraham:
10 for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.
for Levi was yet in the loins of his forefather when Melchizedek met Abraham.
11 Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Now if the crowning blessing was attainable by means of the Levitical priesthood--for as resting on this foundation the people received the Law, to which they are still subject-- what further need was there for a Priest of a different kind to be raised up belonging to the order of Melchizedek instead of being said to belong to the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law.
For when the priesthood changes, a change of Law also of necessity takes place.
13 For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
He, however, to whom that prophecy refers is associated with a different tribe, not one member of which has anything to do with the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
For it is undeniable that our Lord sprang from Judah, a tribe of which Moses said nothing in connection with priests.
15 This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,
And this is still more abundantly clear when we read that it is as belonging to the order of Melchizedek that a priest of a different kind is to arise,
16 who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life:
and hold His office not in obedience to any temporary Law, but by virtue of an indestructible Life.
17 for it is testified, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." (aiōn g165)
For the words are in evidence, "Thou art a priest for ever, belonging to the order of Melchizedek." (aiōn g165)
18 For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
On the one hand we have here the abrogation of an earlier code because it was weak and ineffective--
19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
for the Law brought no perfect blessing--but on the other hand we have the bringing in of a new and better hope by means of which we draw near to God.
20 Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath,
And since it was not without an oath being taken--
21 for they indeed have been made priests without an oath, but he with an oath by him that says of him, "The Lord swore and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.'" (aiōn g165)
for these men hold office without any oath having been taken, but He holds it attested by an oath from Him who said to Him, "The Lord has sworn and will not recall His words, Thou art a Priest for ever" -- (aiōn g165)
22 Accordingly Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
so much the more also is the Covenant of which Jesus has become the guarantor, a better covenant.
23 Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.
And they have been appointed priests many in number, because death prevents their continuance in office:
but He, because He continues for ever, has a priesthood which does not pass to any successor. (aiōn g165)
25 Therefore he is also able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.
Hence too He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, seeing that He ever lives to plead for them.
26 For such a high priest was indeed fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Moreover we needed just such a High Priest as this--holy, guileless, undefiled, far removed from sinful men and exalted above the heavens;
27 who does not need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself.
who, unlike other High Priests, is not under the necessity of offering up sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and afterwards for those of the people; for this latter thing He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath which came after the Law appoints a Son forever who has been perfected. (aiōn g165)
For the Law constitutes men High Priests--men with all their infirmity--but the utterance of the oath, which came later than the Law, constitutes High Priest a Son who has been made for ever perfect. (aiōn g165)
