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 Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed 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 divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, “king of righteousness”, and then also “king of Salem”, which means “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.

without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains a priest continually.

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

Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth out of the best plunder.

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;

They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of 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 he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.

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

But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

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

Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives.

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

We can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,

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

for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.

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 perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after 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 the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law.

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;

For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at 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 evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

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

This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,

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

who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life;

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

for it is testified, “You are a priest forever, according 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, —

For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

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 made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

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

Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath

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 they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, “The Lord swore and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’” (aiōn g165)

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

By so much, Jesus has become the guarantee of 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;

Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.

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

But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable. (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.

Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession 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;

For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than 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 doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this 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 appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son forever who has been perfected. (aiōn g165)