| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He 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 and blessed him as he returned from defeating the kings, |
| 2and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “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 or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time. | 3without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God-- remains a priest forever. |
| 4Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder. | 4Now consider how great this man was--even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the plunder to him! |
| 5Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too 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 Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. | 6But one without this lineage collected tenths from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. |
| 7And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater. | 7Without a doubt, the inferior is blessed by the superior. |
| 8In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed 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, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham. | 9And in a sense Levi himself, who receives tenths, has paid tenths through Abraham, |
| 10For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor. | 10for he was still within his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. |
| 11Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in 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, the law must be changed as well. | 12For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well. |
| 13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served 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 clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests. | 14Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests. |
| 15And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, | 15And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears, |
| 16one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by 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 testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” | 17For it has been testified: You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. |
| 18So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless | 18So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable |
| 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by 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 none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, | 20None of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, |
| 21but Jesus became 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.’ ” | 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. |
| 22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. | 22So Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant. |
| 23Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office. | 23Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. |
| 24But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. | 24But because He remains forever, He holds His priesthood permanently. |
| 25Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them. | 25Therefore, He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them. |
| 26Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart 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. |
| 27Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin 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 as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been 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. |
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