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 Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who 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 also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also 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 descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth 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.

Now consider how great this man [was], unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the 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 verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of 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 whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

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

And without all contradiction the less is blessed of 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 men that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

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

And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

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

For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec 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?

If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law, ) what further need [was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, 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, there is made of necessity a change also 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 of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance 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 out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

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 yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

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

Who is made, not 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 he testifieth, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (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 verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

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 [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

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

And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest]:

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)

(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec: ) (aiōn g165)

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

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

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

And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

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

But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath 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 able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession 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 an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made 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 needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

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 maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. (aiōn g165)