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, —
Now this Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning from the slaughter of the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him,
2 To whom even a tenth of all Abraham apportioned, first, indeed, when translated, King of Righteousness, but, after that, King of Salem also, which is King of Peace, —
and Abraham gave him a tenth of all the spoils. His name means “king of righteousness,” but he is also “king of Salem,” which means, “king of peace.”
3 Without father, without mother, without pedigree, having, neither beginning of days, nor of life an end, but made like unto the Son of God, abideth a priest evermore.
He is without father, without mother, and without genealogy; there is no beginning to his days or end to his life. But resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
4 Now consider, how great, this man was, to whom, a tenth, Abraham gave out of the choicest spoils, [Yea Abraham] the Patriarch.
Consider how great this man must be, that even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils.
5 And, they, indeed, from among the sons of Levi who the priesthood receive, have commandment to take tithes of the people, according to the law, that is, of their brethren, although sprung from the loins of Abraham;
Now the law commands the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office to collect tithes from the people, that is, their brothers, even though their brothers are also descended from Abraham.
6 But, he who deriveth not his pedigree from among them, hath taken tithes of Abraham. And, the holder of the promises, hath he blessed.
But Melchizedek, who was not among the descendants of Levi, received a tithe from Abraham. He also blessed Abraham, who had received the promises.
7 But, apart from all gainsaying, the less, by the greater, is blessed.
It is beyond all dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
8 And, here, indeed, dying men take tithes, but, there, one of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
In the one case, tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, they are received by one who is attested to be living.
9 And—so to say a word—through Abraham, even Levi who taketh tithes hath paid tithes;
One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham.
10 For, even then, was he, in the loins of his father, when, Melchizedek, met him.
For Levi was still in the loins of his ancestor Abraham when Melchizedek met him.
11 If indeed, therefore, there had been, a perfecting through means of the Levitical priesthood, —for, the people, thereon, have had based a code of laws, what further need, according to the rank of Melchizedek, for a different priest to be raised up, and, not according to the rank of Aaron, to be designated?
Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under this priesthood the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek rather than the order of Aaron?
12 For, seeing there is to be a change of the priesthood, of necessity, of law too, a change cometh.
For when the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed.
13 For, he as to whom these things are said, with a different tribe, hath taken partnership, from which, no one, hath given attendance at the altar;
Now he of whom these things are spoken belongs to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
14 For it is, very evident, that out of Judah hath sprung our Lord, —respecting which tribe, concerning priests, nothing did Moses speak,
For it is clear that our Lord arose from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priesthood.
15 And, yet more abundantly evident it is—that, according to the likeness of Melchizedek, there is to be raised up, a different priest.
Now this point becomes even more clear when there arises another priest like Melchizedek,
16 Who, not according to a law of commandment dealing with the flesh, hath arisen, but according to the power of an indissoluble life;
one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an endless life.
17 For it is witnessed—Thou, art a priest, age-abidingly, according to the rank of Melchizedek. (aiōn g165)
For God testifies, “Yoʋ are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (aiōn g165)
18 For, a setting aside, doth, indeed, take place, of a foregoing commandment, by reason of its own weakness and unprofitableness, —
The former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and ineffectiveness
19 For, the law, perfected, nothing; but there is the superinducing of a better hope, —through which we draw near unto God.
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20 And, inasmuch as not apart from oath-taking—
And none of this happened without an oath. Aaron's descendants become priests without an oath,
21 For, they, indeed, apart from oath-taking, have been made priests, but, he, with an oath-taking, through him that was saying unto him—The Lord sware, and will not regret, —Thou, art a priest, age-abidingly (aiōn g165)
but Jesus was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘Yoʋ are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’” (aiōn g165)
22 By as much as this, hath, Jesus, become surety of a better covenant also.
Accordingly, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 And, they, indeed, in greater numbers, have been made priests, because, by reason of death, are they hindered from remaining at hand;
Now the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office;
24 But, he, by reason of his remaining age-abidingly, untransmissible, holdeth, the priesthood. (aiōn g165)
but because Jesus continues forever, he has a permanent priesthood. (aiōn g165)
25 Whence he is able, even to be saving unto the very end, them who approach, through him, unto God; Since he evermore liveth to be interceding in their behalf.
Therefore he is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 For, such a high-priest as this, for us, was [even] suited: Loving, noble, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and become, higher than the heavens;
It was fitting for us to have such a high priest, one who is holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27 Who hath no daily necessity, like the high-priests, beforehand, over his own sins, to be offering sacrifices, after that, over those, of the people, —for, this, he did once for all when, himself, he offered up.
He has no need, like the other high priests, to offer up daily sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
28 For, the law, constituteth, men, high-priests, having, weakness; but, the word of the oath-taking, which cometh after the law, A Son, age-abidingly, made perfect. (aiōn g165)
For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son, who has been made perfect forever. (aiōn g165)
