| NET Bible | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 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, who met Abraham as he was 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. | 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, 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. | 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. |
| 4But see how great he must be, if Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of his plunder. | 4Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest 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 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 Melchizedek who does not share their ancestry collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed the one who possessed the promise. | 6But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. |
| 7Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior, | 7But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. |
| 8and in one case tithes are received by mortal men, while in the other by him who is affirmed to be alive. | 8In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. |
| 9And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham. | 9And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, |
| 10For he was still in his ancestor Abraham's loins when Melchizedek met him. | 10for he was still in the loins of his father 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 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 when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come as well. | 12For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. |
| 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 concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated 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, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. |
| 15And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, | 15And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to 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 such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to 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 attested of Him, "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO 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, 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 a better hope is introduced, 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 since this was not done without a sworn affirmation--for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation, | 20And inasmuch as it was not 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'"-- | 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 '"); |
| 22accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. | 22so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. |
| 23And the others who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them from continuing in office, | 23The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, |
| 24but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever. | 24but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. |
| 25So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede 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 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 fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, 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. | 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 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 as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever. |
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