Hebrews 5

1 Every High Priest, taken from among men, is appointed as a representative of his fellow-men in their relations with God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices in expiation of sins.

Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

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

He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness.

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

That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

4 Nor does any one take that high office upon himself, till he has been called to do so by God, as Aaron was.

No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.

5 In the same way, even the Christ did not take the honour of the High Priesthood upon himself, but he was appointed by him who said to him — ‘Thou art my Son; this day I have become thy Father’;

So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.”

6 and on another occasion also — ‘Thou art a priest for all time of the order of Melchizedek.’ (aiōn g165)

And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in 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.

During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.

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

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what 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 made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (aiōnios g166)

10 while God himself pronounced him a High Priest of the order of Melchizedek.

and was designated by God as high priest in 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.

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.

12 For whereas, considering the time that has elapsed, you ought to be teaching others, you still need some one to teach you the very alphabet of the Divine Revelation, and need again to be fed with ‘milk’ instead of with ‘solid food.’

Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!

13 For every one who still has to take ‘milk’ knows nothing of the Teaching of Righteousness; he is a mere infant.

For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness.

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 the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.