Hebrews 7

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 This "Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High," "met Abraham as he returned from his defeat of the kings" and "blessed him."	1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 And Abraham apportioned to him "a tenth of everything." His name first means righteous king, and he was also "king of Salem," that is, king of peace.	2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 Without father, mother, or ancestry, without beginning of days or end of life, thus made to resemble the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.	3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4 See how great he is to whom the patriarch "Abraham (indeed) gave a tenth" of his spoils.	4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5 The descendants of Levi who receive the office of priesthood have a commandment according to the law to exact tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, although they also have come from the loins of Abraham.	5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6 But he who was not of their ancestry received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises.	6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 Unquestionably, a lesser person is blessed by a greater.	7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 In the one case, mortal men receive tithes; in the other, a man of whom it is testified that he lives on.	8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, was tithed through Abraham,	9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 for he was still in his father's loins when Melchizedek met him.	10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
11 If, then, perfection came through the levitical priesthood, on the basis of which the people received the law, what need would there still have been for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not reckoned according to the order of Aaron?	11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 When there is a change of priesthood, there is necessarily a change of law as well.	12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 Now he of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, of which no member ever officiated at the altar.	13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14 It is clear that our Lord arose from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.	14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15 It is even more obvious if another priest is raised up after the likeness of Melchizedek,	15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 who has become so, not by a law expressed in a commandment concerning physical descent but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed.	16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For it is testified: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."	17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18 On the one hand, a former commandment is annulled because of its weakness and uselessness,	18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19 for the law brought nothing to perfection; on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.	19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
20 And to the degree that this happened not without the taking of an oath --for others became priests without an oath,	20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 but he with an oath, through the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: 'You are a priest forever'"--	21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22 to that same degree has Jesus (also) become the guarantee of an (even) better covenant.	22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 Those priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office,	23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 but he, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away.	24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.	25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens.	26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself.	27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.	28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.