| New International Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 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, | 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, |
| 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." | 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 or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. | 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. |
| 4Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! | 4Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 6This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. | 6But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. |
| 7And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. | 7But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. |
| 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. | 8In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. |
| 9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, | 9And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, |
| 10because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. | 10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. |
| 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? | 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 is changed, the law must be changed also. | 12For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. |
| 13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served 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 descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. | 14For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. |
| 15And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, | 15And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, |
| 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. | 16who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. |
| 17For it is declared: "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." |
| 18The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless | 18For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness |
| 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by 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 it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, | 20And inasmuch as it was not without an oath |
| 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.'" | 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 '"); |
| 22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. | 22so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. |
| 23Now there have been many of those priests, since 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 because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. | 24but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. |
| 25Therefore 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. |
| 26Such a high priest truly meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, 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; |
| 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. | 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 in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been 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. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | 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 |
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