Hebrews 5

1 For, every high-priest who from among men is taken, on behalf of men, is appointed, as to the things pertaining unto God, that he may be offering [both] gifts and sacrifices for sins, —

For every high priest taken from among the people is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

2 Able, to have a measure of feeling, for the ignorant and erring, —since, he also, is compassed with weakness;

He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.

3 And, for this cause, is he obliged—as for the people, so also, for himself, —to be offering 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, not unto himself, doth one take the honour, but when called by God, just as, even Aaron:

No one takes this honor for himself, but receives it when he is called by God, just as Aaron was.

5 Thus, also the Christ, glorified not himself to become a high-priest, but he that spake unto him—My Son, art, thou, I, this day, have begotten thee;

In the same way, Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, “Yoʋ are my Son; today I have begotten yoʋ.”

6 As also, in a different place, he saith—Thou, art a priest, age-abidingly, according to the rank of Melchizedek: (aiōn g165)

And in another passage he says, “Yoʋ are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (aiōn g165)

7 Who, in the days of his flesh, having offered up, both supplications and entreaties unto him that was able to save him out of death, with mighty outcries and tears, and been hearkened to by reason of his devoutness,

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

8 Even though he was a son, yet learned, from what things he suffered, obedience;

Even though he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.

9 And, being made perfect, became, to all them that obey him, Author of salvation age-abiding; (aiōnios g166)

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

10 Being addressed by God as high-priest—according to the rank of Melchizedek.

and was designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

11 Concerning whom, great, is our discourse, and of difficult interpretation, to express, seeing that, slothful, have ye become in the hearing;

On this topic we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become sluggish in hearing.

12 For, even when ye ought to be teachers, by reason of the time, again, have ye, need, that one be teaching, you, what are the first principles of the oracles of God, and have become such as have, need, of milk, not, of strong food;

For though you ought to be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food.

13 For, every one partaking of milk, is unskilled in discourse of righteousness, for he is, a babe;

Anyone who lives on milk is unacquainted with the teaching about righteousness, for he is an infant.

14 But, to such as are mature, pertaineth, the strong food, to them who, by reason of habit, have their organs of perception well trained for discriminating both good and evil.

But solid food is for the mature, whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish between good and evil.