Hebrews 5

1 For, every high-priest who from among men is taken, on behalf of men, is appointed, as to the things pertaining unto God, that he may be offering [both] gifts and sacrifices for sins, —

For every High Priest is chosen from among men, and is appointed to act on behalf of men in matters relating to God, in order to offer both gifts and sin-offerings,

2 Able, to have a measure of feeling, for the ignorant and erring, —since, he also, is compassed with weakness;

and must be one who is able to bear patiently with the ignorant and erring, because he himself also is beset with infirmity.

3 And, for this cause, is he obliged—as for the people, so also, for himself, —to be offering for sins;

And for this reason he is required to offer sin-offerings not only for the people but also for himself.

4 And, not unto himself, doth one take the honour, but when called by God, just as, even Aaron:

And no one takes this honourable office upon himself, but only accepts it when called to it by God, as Aaron was.

5 Thus, also the Christ, glorified not himself to become a high-priest, but he that spake unto him—My Son, art, thou, I, this day, have begotten thee;

So Christ also did not claim for Himself the honour of being made High Priest, but was appointed to it by Him who said to Him, "My Son art Thou: I have to-day become Thy Father;"

6 As also, in a different place, he saith—Thou, art a priest, age-abidingly, according to the rank of Melchizedek: (aiōn g165)

as also in another passage He says, "Thou art a priest for ever, belonging to the order of Melchizedek." (aiōn g165)

7 Who, in the days of his flesh, having offered up, both supplications and entreaties unto him that was able to save him out of death, with mighty outcries and tears, and been hearkened to by reason of his devoutness,

For Jesus during his earthly life offered up prayers and entreaties, crying aloud and weeping as He pleaded with Him who was able to bring Him in safety out of death, and He was delivered from the terror from which He shrank.

8 Even though he was a son, yet learned, from what things he suffered, obedience;

Although He was God's Son, yet He learned obedience from the sufferings which He endured;

9 And, being made perfect, became, to all them that obey him, Author of salvation age-abiding; (aiōnios g166)

and so, having been made perfect, He became to all who obey Him the source and giver of eternal salvation. (aiōnios g166)

10 Being addressed by God as high-priest—according to the rank of Melchizedek.

For God Himself addresses Him as a High Priest for ever, belonging to the order of Melchizedek.

11 Concerning whom, great, is our discourse, and of difficult interpretation, to express, seeing that, slothful, have ye become in the hearing;

Concerning Him we have much to say, and much that it would be difficult to make clear to you, since you have become so dull of apprehension.

12 For, even when ye ought to be teachers, by reason of the time, again, have ye, need, that one be teaching, you, what are the first principles of the oracles of God, and have become such as have, need, of milk, not, of strong food;

For although, considering the long time you have been believers, you ought now to be teachers of others, you really need some one to teach you over again the very rudiments of the truths of God, and you have come to require milk instead of solid food.

13 For, every one partaking of milk, is unskilled in discourse of righteousness, for he is, a babe;

By people who live on milk I mean those who are imperfectly acquainted with the teaching concerning righteousness.

14 But, to such as are mature, pertaineth, the strong food, to them who, by reason of habit, have their organs of perception well trained for discriminating both good and evil.

Such persons are mere babes. But solid food is for adults--that is, for those who through constant practice have their spiritual faculties carefully trained to distinguish good from evil.