International Standard Version

King James Bible

1Now this man Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, met Abraham and blessed him when he was returning from defeating the kings.

1For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

2Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything. In the first place, his name means "king of righteousness," and then he is also king of Salem, that is, "king of peace."

2To 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;

3He has no father, mother, or genealogy, no birth date recorded for him, nor a date of death. Like the Son of God, he continues to be a priest forever.

3Without 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.

4Just look at how great this man was! Even Abraham—the patriarch himself—gave him a tenth of what he had captured!

4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

5The descendants of Levi who accept the priesthood have a commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their own brothers, even though they are also descendants of Abraham.

5And 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:

6But this man, whose descent is not traced from them, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the man who had received the promises.

6But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7It is beyond dispute that the less important person is blessed by the more important person.

7And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

8Mortal men collect tithes, but we are informed by Scripture that Melchizedek keeps on living.

8And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham,

9And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

10because Levi was still inside his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

10For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

11Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—for on this basis the people received the Law—what further need would there be to speak of appointing another kind of priest according to the order of Melchizedek, not one according to the order of Aaron?

11If 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?

12When a change in the priesthood takes place, there must also be a change in the Law.

12For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

13For the person we are talking about belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.

13For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

14Furthermore, it is obvious that our Lord was a descendant of Judah, and Moses said nothing about priests coming from that tribe.

14For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

15This point is even more obvious in that another priest who is like Melchizedek has appeared

15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

16who was appointed to be a priest, not on the basis of a genealogical registry, but rather on the power of an indestructible life.

16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17For it is declared about him, "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

17For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

18Indeed, because it was weak and ineffective, the former commandment has been annulled,

18For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

19since the Law made nothing perfect, and a better hope is presented, by which we approach God.

19For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

20Now none of this happened without an oath. Others became priests without any oath,

20And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

21but Jesus became a priest with an oath when God told him, "The Lord has taken an oath and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever."

21(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:)

22In this way, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

22By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

23There have been many priests, since each one of them had to stop serving in office when he died.

23And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

24But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.

24But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

25Therefore, because he always lives to intercede for them, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him.

25Wherefore 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.

26We need such a high priest—one who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

26For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27He has no need to offer sacrifices every day like high priests do, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he sacrificed himself.

27Who 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.

28For the Law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promised oath, which came after the Law, results in a Son who is eternally perfect.

28For 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.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.