| English Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter 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 to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, 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. |
| 3He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues 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. |
| 4See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! | 4Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. |
| 5And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these 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. |
| 6But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes 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. |
| 7It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. | 7But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. |
| 8In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. | 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 himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, | 9And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, |
| 10for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. | 10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. |
| 11Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after 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 there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. | 12For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. |
| 13For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one 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 evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with 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. |
| 15This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, | 15And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, |
| 16who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by 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 witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” | 17For it is attested of Him, "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK." |
| 18For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness | 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); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through 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. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, | 20And inasmuch as it was not without an oath |
| 21but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who 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 '"); |
| 22This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. | 22so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. |
| 23The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, | 23The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, |
| 24but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. | 24but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. |
| 25Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession 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. |
| 26For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and 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; |
| 27He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up 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 men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a 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. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | 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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