| NET Bible | New International 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. | 1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat 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 Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "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 or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. |
| 4But see how great he must be, if Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of his plunder. | 4Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! |
| 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. | 5Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people--that is, from their fellow Israelites--even though they 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. | 6This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. |
| 7Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior, | 7And without doubt 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 the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. |
| 9And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham. | 9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, |
| 10For he was still in his ancestor Abraham's loins when Melchizedek met him. | 10because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. |
| 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? | 11If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood--and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood--why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? |
| 12For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come as well. | 12For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed 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. | 13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe 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 clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. |
| 15And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, | 15And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, |
| 16who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical descent but by the power of an indestructible life. | 16one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of 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 declared: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." |
| 18On the one hand a former command is set aside because it is weak and useless, | 18The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless |
| 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 a better hope is introduced, by 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! Others became priests without any 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 he became a priest with an oath when God 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. | 22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. |
| 23And the others who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them from continuing in office, | 23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; |
| 24but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever. | 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. |
| 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 to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede 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. | 26Such a high priest truly meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, 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. | 27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered 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 as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. |
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