| King James Bible | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 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, who met Abraham as he was 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; | 2to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which 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. | 3Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. |
| 4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. | 4Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest 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 indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these 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 the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. |
| 7And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. | 7But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. |
| 8And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. | 8In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. |
| 9And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. | 9And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, |
| 10For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. | 10for he was still in the loins of his father 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 was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? |
| 12For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. | 12For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. |
| 13For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. | 13For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated 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, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. |
| 15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, | 15And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to 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 such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. |
| 17For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. | 17For it is attested of Him, "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO 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, there is a setting aside of a former commandment 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), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. |
| 20And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: | 20And inasmuch as it was not 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:) | 21(for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through 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. | 22so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. |
| 23And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: | 23The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, |
| 24But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. | 24but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. |
| 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. | 25Therefore He is able also to save forever 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 fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, 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. | 27who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did 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 as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever. |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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