Hebrews 5

1 Every high priest, taken from among the people, is appointed as their representative in their relations with God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices in expiation of sins.

For every high priest taken from men is appointed for men in things toward God, so that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

2 And he is able to sympathise with the ignorant and deluded, since he is himself subject to weakness,

Who can be gentle to those who are ignorant and led astray, since he himself is also encompassed with weakness.

3 and is therefore bound to offer sacrifices for sins, not only for the people, but equally so for himself.

And because of this he is obligated, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

4 Nor does anyone take that high office on themselves, until they have been called to do so by God, as Aaron was.

And not any man takes the honor to himself, but being called by God, just as also Aaron.

5 In the same way, even the Christ did not take the honour of the high priesthood on himself, but he was appointed by him who said to him – “You are my Son; this day I have become your Father”;

So also Christ did not glorify himself to become a high priest, but it was he who said to him, Thou are my Son, today I have begotten thee.

6 and on another occasion also – “You are a priest for all time of the order of Melchizedek.” (aiōn g165)

(And just as he says in another, Thou are a priest into the age according to the order of Melchizedek.) (aiōn g165)

7 Jesus, in the days of his earthly life, offered prayers and supplications, with earnest cries and with tears, to him who was able to save him from death; and he was heard because of his devout submission.

Who, in the days of his flesh, having offered up both prayers and supplications with strong shouting and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and who was heard because of his reverence,

8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from his sufferings;

although being a Son, he learned obedience from the things that he suffered.

9 and, being made perfect, he became to all those who obey him the source of eternal salvation, (aiōnios g166)

And having been fully perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation to all those who obey him, (aiōnios g166)

10 while God himself pronounced him a high priest of the order of Melchizedek.

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

11 Now on this subject I have much to say, but it is difficult to explain it to you, because you have shown yourselves so slow to learn.

About whom, much subject matter from us is also difficult to explain, since ye have become sluggish in hearing.

12 For whereas, considering the time that has elapsed, you ought to be teaching others, you still need someone to teach you the alphabet of the divine revelation, and need again to be fed with milk instead of with “solid food.”

For also men who ought to be teachers because of the time, ye have need again for some man to teach you the rudiments of the beginning of the oracles of God, and have become men who have need of milk, and not of solid food.

13 For everyone who still has to take milk knows nothing of the teaching of righteousness; they are a mere infant.

For every man partaking of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is childlike.

14 But solid food is for Christians of mature faith – those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish right from wrong.

But solid food is for mature men, those having their sensibilities trained through practice for the discernment of both good and evil.