Hebrews 7

1 For, this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him, —

For this man, Melchizedek, King of Salem and priest of the Most High God--he who when Abraham was returning after defeating the kings met him and pronounced a blessing on him--

2 To whom even a tenth of all Abraham apportioned, first, indeed, when translated, King of Righteousness, but, after that, King of Salem also, which is King of Peace, —

to whom also Abraham presented a tenth part of all--being first, as his name signifies, King of righteousness, and secondly King of Salem, that is, King of peace:

3 Without father, without mother, without pedigree, having, neither beginning of days, nor of life an end, but made like unto the Son of God, abideth a priest evermore.

with no father or mother, and no record of ancestry: having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made a type of the Son of God--this man Melchizedek remains a priest for ever.

4 Now consider, how great, this man was, to whom, a tenth, Abraham gave out of the choicest spoils, [Yea Abraham] the Patriarch.

Now think how great this priest-king must have been to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth part of the best of the spoil.

5 And, they, indeed, from among the sons of Levi who the priesthood receive, have commandment to take tithes of the people, according to the law, that is, of their brethren, although sprung from the loins of Abraham;

And those of the descendants of Levi who receive the priesthood are authorized by the Law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brethren, though these have sprung from Abraham.

6 But, he who deriveth not his pedigree from among them, hath taken tithes of Abraham. And, the holder of the promises, hath he blessed.

But, in this instance, one who does not trace his origin from them takes tithes from Abraham, and pronounces a blessing on him to whom the promises belong.

7 But, apart from all gainsaying, the less, by the greater, is blessed.

And beyond all dispute it is always the inferior who is blessed by the superior.

8 And, here, indeed, dying men take tithes, but, there, one of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

Moreover here frail mortal men receive tithes: there one receives them about whom there is evidence that he is alive.

9 And—so to say a word—through Abraham, even Levi who taketh tithes hath paid tithes;

And Levi too--if I may so speak--pays tithes through Abraham:

10 For, even then, was he, in the loins of his father, when, Melchizedek, met him.

for Levi was yet in the loins of his forefather when Melchizedek met Abraham.

11 If indeed, therefore, there had been, a perfecting through means of the Levitical priesthood, —for, the people, thereon, have had based a code of laws, what further need, according to the rank of Melchizedek, for a different priest to be raised up, and, not according to the rank of Aaron, to be designated?

Now if the crowning blessing was attainable by means of the Levitical priesthood--for as resting on this foundation the people received the Law, to which they are still subject-- what further need was there for a Priest of a different kind to be raised up belonging to the order of Melchizedek instead of being said to belong to the order of Aaron?

12 For, seeing there is to be a change of the priesthood, of necessity, of law too, a change cometh.

For when the priesthood changes, a change of Law also of necessity takes place.

13 For, he as to whom these things are said, with a different tribe, hath taken partnership, from which, no one, hath given attendance at the altar;

He, however, to whom that prophecy refers is associated with a different tribe, not one member of which has anything to do with the altar.

14 For it is, very evident, that out of Judah hath sprung our Lord, —respecting which tribe, concerning priests, nothing did Moses speak,

For it is undeniable that our Lord sprang from Judah, a tribe of which Moses said nothing in connection with priests.

15 And, yet more abundantly evident it is—that, according to the likeness of Melchizedek, there is to be raised up, a different priest.

And this is still more abundantly clear when we read that it is as belonging to the order of Melchizedek that a priest of a different kind is to arise,

16 Who, not according to a law of commandment dealing with the flesh, hath arisen, but according to the power of an indissoluble life;

and hold His office not in obedience to any temporary Law, but by virtue of an indestructible Life.

17 For it is witnessed—Thou, art a priest, age-abidingly, according to the rank of Melchizedek. (aiōn g165)

For the words are in evidence, "Thou art a priest for ever, belonging to the order of Melchizedek." (aiōn g165)

18 For, a setting aside, doth, indeed, take place, of a foregoing commandment, by reason of its own weakness and unprofitableness, —

On the one hand we have here the abrogation of an earlier code because it was weak and ineffective--

19 For, the law, perfected, nothing; but there is the superinducing of a better hope, —through which we draw near unto God.

for the Law brought no perfect blessing--but on the other hand we have the bringing in of a new and better hope by means of which we draw near to God.

20 And, inasmuch as not apart from oath-taking—

And since it was not without an oath being taken--

21 For, they, indeed, apart from oath-taking, have been made priests, but, he, with an oath-taking, through him that was saying unto him—The Lord sware, and will not regret, —Thou, art a priest, age-abidingly (aiōn g165)

for these men hold office without any oath having been taken, but He holds it attested by an oath from Him who said to Him, "The Lord has sworn and will not recall His words, Thou art a Priest for ever" -- (aiōn g165)

22 By as much as this, hath, Jesus, become surety of a better covenant also.

so much the more also is the Covenant of which Jesus has become the guarantor, a better covenant.

23 And, they, indeed, in greater numbers, have been made priests, because, by reason of death, are they hindered from remaining at hand;

And they have been appointed priests many in number, because death prevents their continuance in office:

24 But, he, by reason of his remaining age-abidingly, untransmissible, holdeth, the priesthood. (aiōn g165)

but He, because He continues for ever, has a priesthood which does not pass to any successor. (aiōn g165)

25 Whence he is able, even to be saving unto the very end, them who approach, through him, unto God; Since he evermore liveth to be interceding in their behalf.

Hence too He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, seeing that He ever lives to plead for them.

26 For, such a high-priest as this, for us, was [even] suited: Loving, noble, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and become, higher than the heavens;

Moreover we needed just such a High Priest as this--holy, guileless, undefiled, far removed from sinful men and exalted above the heavens;

27 Who hath no daily necessity, like the high-priests, beforehand, over his own sins, to be offering sacrifices, after that, over those, of the people, —for, this, he did once for all when, himself, he offered up.

who, unlike other High Priests, is not under the necessity of offering up sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and afterwards for those of the people; for this latter thing He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

28 For, the law, constituteth, men, high-priests, having, weakness; but, the word of the oath-taking, which cometh after the law, A Son, age-abidingly, made perfect. (aiōn g165)

For the Law constitutes men High Priests--men with all their infirmity--but the utterance of the oath, which came later than the Law, constitutes High Priest a Son who has been made for ever perfect. (aiōn g165)