| King James Bible | New International 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; | 1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat 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 Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "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 or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. |
| 4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. | 4Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! |
| 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: | 5Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people--that is, from their fellow Israelites--even though they 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. | 6This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. |
| 7And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. | 7And without doubt 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 the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. |
| 9And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. | 9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, |
| 10For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. | 10because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. |
| 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? | 11If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood--and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood--why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in 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, the law must be changed also. |
| 13For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. | 13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe 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 clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to 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, | 15And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, |
| 16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. | 16one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. |
| 17For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. | 17For it is declared: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." |
| 18For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. | 18The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless |
| 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 a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. |
| 20And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: | 20And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any 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 he became a priest with an oath when God 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. | 22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. |
| 23And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: | 23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; |
| 24But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. | 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. |
| 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 to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. |
| 26For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; | 26Such a high priest truly meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, 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. | 27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered 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 as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. |
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