King James Bible

English Standard Version

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;

1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

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;

2and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.

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.

3He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

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

4See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!

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:

5And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.

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

6But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

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

7It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.

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

8In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.

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

9One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,

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

10for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

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?

11Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?

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

12For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.

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

13For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

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

14For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

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

15This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,

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

16who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.

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

17For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

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

18For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness

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

19(for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

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

20And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath,

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:)

21but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’”

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

22This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

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

23The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,

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

24but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.

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.

25Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

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

26For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

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.

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

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.

28For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.