Hebrews 7

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham, as he was 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 And Abraham divided to him a tenth part of everything. And in translation his name is first, indeed, king of justice, and next also king of Salem, that 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 genealogy, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, he is thereby likened to the Son of God, who remains a priest continuously.
4 See how great he is to whom the patriarch "Abraham (indeed) gave a tenth" of his spoils.	4 Next, consider how great this man is, since the Patriarch Abraham even gave tithes to him from the principal things.
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 indeed, those who are from the sons of Levi, having received the priesthood, hold a commandment to take tithes from the people in accord with the law, that is, from their brothers, even though they also went forth from 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 this man, whose lineage is not enumerated with them, received tithes from Abraham, and he blessed even the one who held the promises.
7 Unquestionably, a lesser person is blessed by a greater.	7 Yet this is without any contradiction, for what is less should be blessed by what is 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 certainly, here, men who receive tithes still die; but there, he bears witness that he lives.
9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, was tithed through Abraham,	9 And so it may be said that even Levi, who received tithes, was himself a tithe through Abraham.
10 for he was still in his father's loins when Melchizedek met him.	10 For he was still in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek 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 Therefore, if consummation had occurred through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), then what further need would there be for another Priest to rise up according to the order of Melchizedek, one who was not called according to the order of Aaron?
12 When there is a change of priesthood, there is necessarily a change of law as well.	12 For since the priesthood has been transferred, it is necessary that the law also be transferred.
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 about whom these things have been spoken is from another tribe, in which no one attends before 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 arose out of Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning priests.
15 It is even more obvious if another priest is raised up after the likeness of Melchizedek,	15 And yet it is far more evident that, according to the likeness of Melchizedek, there rises up 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 was made, not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the virtue of an indissoluble life.
17 For it is testified: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."	17 For he testifies: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
18 On the one hand, a former commandment is annulled because of its weakness and uselessness,	18 Certainly, there is a setting aside of the former commandment, because of its weakness and lack of usefulness.
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 led no one to perfection, yet truly it introduced a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
20 And to the degree that this happened not without the taking of an oath --for others became priests without an oath,	20 Moreover, it is not without an oath. For certainly, the others were made priests without an oath.
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 But this man was made a priest with an oath, by the One who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and he will not repent. You are a priest forever.”
22 to that same degree has Jesus (also) become the guarantee of an (even) better covenant.	22 By so much, Jesus has been made the sponsor of a better testament.
23 Those priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office,	23 And certainly, so many of the others became priests because, due to death, they were prohibited from continuing.
24 but he, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away.	24 But this man, because he continues forever, has an everlasting 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 And for this reason, he is able, continuously, to save those who approach God through him, since he is ever alive to make intercession on our behalf.
26 It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens.	26 For it was fitting that we should have such a High Priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted 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 And he has no need, daily, in the manner of other priests, to offer sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people. For he has done this once, by offering 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 appoints men as priests, though they have infirmities. But, by the word of the oath that is after the law, the Son has been perfected for eternity.