| New American Standard Bible 1995 | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 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, | 1For this Melchizedek-- King of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from defeating the kings, |
| 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. | 2and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything; first, his name means king of righteousness, then also, king of Salem, meaning king of peace; |
| 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. | 3without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God-- remains a priest forever. |
| 4Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. | 4Now consider how great this man was--even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the plunder to him! |
| 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. | 5The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the people--that is, from their brothers--though they have also descended from Abraham. |
| 6But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. | 6But one without this lineage collected tenths from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. |
| 7But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. | 7Without a doubt, the inferior is blessed by the superior. |
| 8In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. | 8In the one case, men who will die receive tenths, but in the other case, Scripture testifies that he lives. |
| 9And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, | 9And in a sense Levi himself, who receives tenths, has paid tenths through Abraham, |
| 10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. | 10for he was still within his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. |
| 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? | 11If then, perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? |
| 12For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. | 12For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well. |
| 13For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. | 13For the One these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar. |
| 14For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. | 14Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests. |
| 15And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, | 15And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears, |
| 16who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. | 16who did not become a priest based on a legal command concerning physical descent but based on the power of an indestructible life. |
| 17For it is attested of Him, "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK." | 17For it has been testified: You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. |
| 18For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness | 18So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable |
| 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. | 19(for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. |
| 20And inasmuch as it was not without an oath | 20None of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, |
| 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 '"); | 21but He became a priest with an oath made by the One who said to Him: The Lord has sworn, and He will not change His mind, You are a priest forever. |
| 22so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. | 22So Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant. |
| 23The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, | 23Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. |
| 24but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. | 24But because He remains forever, He holds His priesthood permanently. |
| 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. | 25Therefore, He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them. |
| 26For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; | 26For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. |
| 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. | 27He doesn't need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do--first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all when He offered Himself. |
| 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. | 28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever. |
| 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 | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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