Hebrews 7

1 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--

For this Melchizedek, the king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, the one having met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him,

2 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:

to whom Abraham divided the tenth from all first, being interpreted, King of righteousness, and then King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

3 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.

without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but being made like unto the Son of God, he abides a priest continually.

4 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.

You see how great this man was, to whom the patriarch Abraham even gave the tenth part of the chief spoils.

5 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.

And those indeed of the sons of Levi receiving the priesthood have a commandment to tithe the people according to the law, that is, their brethren, even though having come out from the loins of Abraham:

6 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.

but he who did not derive his lineage from them has tithed Abraham, and blessed him having the promises.

7 And beyond all dispute it is always the inferior who is blessed by the superior.

For without contradiction the less is blessed by the better.

8 Moreover here frail mortal men receive tithes: there one receives them about whom there is evidence that he is alive.

And here indeed men dying, receive tithes; however there, he is witnessed to that he lives.

9 And Levi too--if I may so speak--pays tithes through Abraham:

And, so to speak a word, Levi, the one receiving tithes, has also been tithed through Abraham.

10 for Levi was yet in the loins of his forefather when Melchizedek met Abraham.

For he was still in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

11 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?

Then indeed if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood, for unto it the people have been tithed, what need is there still that another priest shall rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

12 For when the priesthood changes, a change of Law also of necessity takes place.

For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is a change of the law.

13 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.

For he unto whom these things were spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one ministers at the altar:

14 For it is undeniable that our Lord sprang from Judah, a tribe of which Moses said nothing in connection with priests.

for it is evident that our Lord sprang from Judah; in reference to which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

15 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,

And it is still more abundantly evident, if after the similitude of Melchizedek another priest rises,

16 and hold His office not in obedience to any temporary Law, but by virtue of an indestructible Life.

who was not made after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17 For the words are in evidence, "Thou art a priest for ever, belonging to the order of Melchizedek." (aiōn g165)

For it is testified, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (aiōn g165)

18 On the one hand we have here the abrogation of an earlier code because it was weak and ineffective--

For there is a disannulling of the preceding commandment, on account of its weakness and inadequacy

19 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.

for the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh unto God.

20 And since it was not without an oath being taken--

And in as much as it is without an oath, for the priests were made without an oath;

21 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)

but He with an oath through the one saying to him, The Lord hath sworn, and will not regret it; thou art a priest forever; (aiōn g165)

22 so much the more also is the Covenant of which Jesus has become the guarantor, a better covenant.

insomuch that Jesus has also been made the mediator of a better covenant.

23 And they have been appointed priests many in number, because death prevents their continuance in office:

And indeed many have been made priests, because they were prohibited by death from continuing:

24 but He, because He continues for ever, has a priesthood which does not pass to any successor. (aiōn g165)

but he, because he abides forever, has an unchangeable priesthood: (aiōn g165)

25 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.

wherefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those coming unto God through him, ever living to intercede for them.

26 Moreover we needed just such a High Priest as this--holy, guileless, undefiled, far removed from sinful men and exalted above the heavens;

For such a high priest was indeed appropriate unto us, holy, free from sin, undefiled, having been separated from the sinners, and being higher than the heavens;

27 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.

who had not daily need, as the high priests, first to offer up sacrifices for their own sins, then those of the people: for he did this, having offered up himself once.

28 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)

For the law institutes men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which is after the law, the Son, having been made perfect forever. (aiōn g165)