| New American Standard Bible 1995 | International Standard Version |
| 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, | 1Now this man Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, met Abraham and blessed him when he was returning 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. | 2Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything. In the first place, his name means "king of righteousness," and then he is also king of Salem, that 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, he remains a priest perpetually. | 3He has no father, mother, or genealogy, no birth date recorded for him, nor a date of death. Like the Son of God, he continues to be a priest forever. |
| 4Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. | 4Just look at how great this man was! Even Abraham—the patriarch himself—gave him a tenth of what he had captured! |
| 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 descendants of Levi who accept the priesthood have a commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their own brothers, even though they are also descendants of 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 this man, whose descent is not traced from them, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the man who had received the promises. |
| 7But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. | 7It is beyond dispute that the less important person is blessed by the more important person. |
| 8In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. | 8Mortal men collect tithes, but we are informed by Scripture that Melchizedek keeps on living. |
| 9And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, | 9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, |
| 10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. | 10because Levi was still inside 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? | 11Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—for on this basis the people received the Law—what further need would there be to speak of appointing another kind of priest according to the order of Melchizedek, not one according to the order of Aaron? |
| 12For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. | 12When a change in the priesthood takes place, there must also be a change in the Law. |
| 13For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. | 13For the person we are talking about belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever 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. | 14Furthermore, it is obvious that our Lord was a descendant of Judah, and Moses said nothing about priests coming from that tribe. |
| 15And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, | 15This point is even more obvious in that another priest who is like Melchizedek has appeared |
| 16who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. | 16who was appointed to be a priest, not on the basis of a genealogical registry, but rather 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 is declared about him, "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." |
| 18For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness | 18Indeed, because it was weak and ineffective, the former commandment has been annulled, |
| 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. | 19since the Law made nothing perfect, and a better hope is presented, by which we approach God. |
| 20And inasmuch as it was not without an oath | 20Now none of this happened without an oath. Others became priests without any 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 Jesus became a priest with an oath when God told him, "The Lord has taken an oath and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever." |
| 22so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. | 22In this way, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. |
| 23The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, | 23There have been many priests, since each one of them had to stop serving in office when he died. |
| 24but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. | 24But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. |
| 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, because he always lives to intercede for them, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him. |
| 26For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; | 26We need such a high priest—one who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, 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 has no need to offer sacrifices every day like high priests do, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he sacrificed 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 promised oath, which came after the Law, results in a Son who is eternally perfect. |
| 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 | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
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