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 all (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 unto the Son of God), abideth 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, unto whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the chief spoils.
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 And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest’s office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins 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 hath taken tithes of Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath 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 less is blessed of the better.
And beyond all dispute it is always the inferior who is blessed by the superior.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there one, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
Moreover here frail mortal men receive tithes: there one receives them about whom there is evidence that he is alive.
9 And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes;
And Levi too--if I may so speak--pays tithes through Abraham:
10 for he was yet in the loins 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 hath the people received the law), what further need [was there] that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned 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 made of necessity a change also of 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 belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance 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 hath sprung out of Judah; as to which tribe Moses spake 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 And [what we say] is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there ariseth 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 hath been made, not after the law of a carnal 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 witnessed [of him], Thou art a priest for ever After 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 a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness
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 thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto 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 And inasmuch as [it is] not 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 saith of him, The Lord sware and will not repent himself, Thou art a priest for ever); (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 by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.
so much the more also is the Covenant of which Jesus has become the guarantor, a better covenant.
23 And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing:
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 Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth 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 became us, holy, guileless, 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 needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the [sins] of the people: for this he did 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 appointeth men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, [appointeth] a Son, perfected for evermore. (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)
