| New King James Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1For this Melchizedek, 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 translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “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 genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains 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, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. | 4Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. |
| 5And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from 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 genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who 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. |
| 7Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. | 7But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. |
| 8Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. | 8In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. |
| 9Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, | 9And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, |
| 10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. | 10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. |
| 11Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to 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, of necessity there is also a change 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 belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated 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 arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke 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 if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest | 15And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, |
| 16who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to 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 testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” | 17For it is attested of Him, "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK." |
| 18For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, | 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; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to 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 He was not made priest without an oath | 20And inasmuch as it was not without an oath |
| 21(for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The LORD has sworn And will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’ ” ), | 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 more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. | 22so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. |
| 23Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. | 23The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, |
| 24But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. | 24but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. |
| 25Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives 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 a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become 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 does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all 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 appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever. | 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. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | 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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