Hebrews 7

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Melchizedek, king of Salem, a priest of God Most High, came to meet Abraham when he returned fromdefeating the kings, and blessed him;	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."
2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. By the interpretation of his name, he is, first, 'king ofsaving justice' and also king of Salem, that is, 'king of peace';	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.
3 he has no father, mother or ancestry, and his life has no beginning or ending; he is like the Son of God.He remains a priest for ever.	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.
4 Now think how great this man must have been, if the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the finestplunder.	4 See how great he is to whom the patriarch "Abraham (indeed) gave a tenth" of his spoils.
5 We know that any of the descendants of Levi who are admitted to the priesthood are obliged by theLaw to take tithes from the people, that is, from their own brothers although they too are descended fromAbraham.	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.
6 But this man, who was not of the same descent, took his tithe from Abraham, and he gave his blessingto the holder of the promises.	6 But he who was not of their ancestry received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises.
7 Now it is indisputable that a blessing is given by a superior to an inferior.	7 Unquestionably, a lesser person is blessed by a greater.
8 Further, in the normal case it is ordinary mortal men who receive the tithes, whereas in that case it wasone who is attested as being alive.	8 In the one case, mortal men receive tithes; in the other, a man of whom it is testified that he lives on.
9 It could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, actual y paid tithes, in the person of Abraham,	9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, was tithed through Abraham,
10 because he was stil in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek came to meet him.	10 for he was still in his father's loins when Melchizedek met him.
11 Now if perfection had been reached through the levitical priesthood -- and this was the basis of theLaw given to the people -- why was it necessary for a different kind of priest to arise, spoken of as being of theorder of Melchizedek rather than of the order of Aaron?	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?
12 Any change in the priesthood must mean a change in the Law as wel .	12 When there is a change of priesthood, there is necessarily a change of law as well.
13 So our Lord, of whom these things were said, belonged to a different tribe, the members of whichhave never done service at the altar;	13 Now he of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, of which no member ever officiated at the altar.
14 everyone knows he came from Judah, a tribe which Moses did not mention at al when dealing withpriests.	14 It is clear that our Lord arose from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
15 This becomes even more clearly evident if another priest, of the type of Melchizedek, arises who is apriest	15 It is even more obvious if another priest is raised up after the likeness of Melchizedek,
16 not in virtue of a law of physical descent, but in virtue of the power of an indestructible life.	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.
17 For he is attested by the prophecy: You are a priest for ever of the order of Melchizedek.	17 For it is testified: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."
18 The earlier commandment is thus abolished, because of its weakness and ineffectiveness	18 On the one hand, a former commandment is annulled because of its weakness and uselessness,
19 since the Law could not make anything perfect; but now this commandment is replaced by somethingbetter-the hope that brings us close to God.	19 for the law brought nothing to perfection; on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
20 Now the former priests became priests without any oath being sworn,	20 And to the degree that this happened not without the taking of an oath --for others became priests without an oath,
21 but this one with the swearing of an oath by him who said to him, The Lord has sworn an oath he wilnever retract: you are a priest for ever;	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'"--
22 the very fact that it occurred with the swearing of an oath makes the covenant of which Jesus is theguarantee al the greater.	22 to that same degree has Jesus (also) become the guarantee of an (even) better covenant.
23 Further, the former priests were many in number, because death put an end to each one of them;	23 Those priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office,
24 but this one, because he remains for ever, has a perpetual priesthood.	24 but he, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away.
25 It fol ows, then, that his power to save those who come to God through him is absolute, since he livesfor ever to intercede for them.	25 Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.
26 Such is the high priest that met our need, holy, innocent and uncontaminated, set apart from sinners, and raised up above the heavens;	26 It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens.
27 he has no need to offer sacrifices every day, as the high priests do, first for their own sins and onlythen for those of the people; this he did once and for al by offering himself.	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.
28 The Law appoints high priests who are men subject to weakness; but the promise on oath, whichcame after the Law, appointed the Son who is made perfect for ever.	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.