Hebrews 5

1 For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Every high priest, taken from among the people, is appointed as their representative in their relations with God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices in expiation of sins.

2 The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness.

And he is able to sympathize with the ignorant and deluded, since he is himself subject to weakness,

3 Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for himself.

and is therefore bound to offer sacrifices for sins, not only for the people, but equally so for himself.

4 Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.

Nor does anyone take that high office on themselves, until they have been called to do so by God, as Aaron was.

5 So also Christ didn’t glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father.”

In the same way, even the Christ did not take the honor of the high priesthood on himself, but he was appointed by him who said to him – ‘You are my Son; this day I have become your Father’;

6 As he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” (aiōn g165)

and on another occasion also – ‘You are a priest for all time of the order of Melchizedek.’ (aiōn g165)

7 He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,

Jesus, in the days of his earthly life, offered prayers and supplications, with earnest cries and with tears, to him who was able to save him from death; and he was heard because of his devout submission.

8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered.

Son though he was, he learned obedience from his sufferings;

9 Having been made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation, (aiōnios g166)

and, being made perfect, he became to all those who obey him the source of eternal salvation, (aiōnios g166)

10 named by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

while God himself pronounced him a high priest of the order of Melchizedek.

11 About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing.

Now on this subject I have much to say, but it is difficult to explain it to you, because you have shown yourselves so slow to learn.

12 For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food.

For whereas, considering the time that has elapsed, you ought to be teaching others, you still need someone to teach you the alphabet of the divine revelation, and need again to be fed with milk instead of with ‘solid food.’

13 For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.

For everyone who still has to take milk knows nothing of the teaching of righteousness; they are a mere infant.

14 But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

But solid food is for Christians of mature faith – those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish right from wrong.