| NET Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him. | 1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, |
| 2To him also Abraham apportioned a tithe of everything. His name first means king of righteousness, then king of Salem, that is, king of peace. | 2and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. |
| 3Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God, and he remains a priest for all time. | 3He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. |
| 4But see how great he must be, if Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of his plunder. | 4See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! |
| 5And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, although they too are descendants of Abraham. | 5And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. |
| 6But Melchizedek who does not share their ancestry collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed the one who possessed the promise. | 6But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. |
| 7Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior, | 7It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. |
| 8and in one case tithes are received by mortal men, while in the other by him who is affirmed to be alive. | 8In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. |
| 9And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham. | 9One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, |
| 10For he was still in his ancestor Abraham's loins when Melchizedek met him. | 10for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. |
| 11So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood--for on that basis the people received the law--what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron's order? | 11Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? |
| 12For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come as well. | 12For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. |
| 13Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever officiated at the altar. | 13For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. |
| 14For it is clear that our Lord is descended from Judah, yet Moses said nothing about priests in connection with that tribe. | 14For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. |
| 15And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, | 15This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, |
| 16who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical descent but by the power of an indestructible life. | 16who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. |
| 17For here is the testimony about him: "You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek." | 17For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” |
| 18On the one hand a former command is set aside because it is weak and useless, | 18For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness |
| 19for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. | 19(for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. |
| 20And since this was not done without a sworn affirmation--for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation, | 20And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, |
| 21but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever'"-- | 21but this one was made 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.’” |
| 22accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. | 22This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. |
| 23And the others who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them from continuing in office, | 23The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, |
| 24but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever. | 24but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. |
| 25So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. | 25Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. |
| 26For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. | 26For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. |
| 27He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all. | 27He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. |
| 28For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness, but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever. | 28For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. |
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