Hebrews 7

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
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.	1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him;
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.	2 and 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.
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.	3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest for ever.
4 Next, consider how great this man is, since the Patriarch Abraham even gave tithes to him from the principal things.	4 See how great he is! Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of the spoils.
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.	5 And 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 brethren, though these also are descended from Abraham.
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.	6 But this man who has not their genealogy received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7 Yet this is without any contradiction, for what is less should be blessed by what is better.	7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
8 And certainly, here, men who receive tithes still die; but there, he bears witness that he lives.	8 Here tithes are received by mortal men; there, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.
9 And so it may be said that even Levi, who received tithes, was himself a tithe through Abraham.	9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
10 For he was still in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.	10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
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?	11 Now 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?
12 For since the priesthood has been transferred, it is necessary that the law also be transferred.	12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.
13 For he about whom these things have been spoken is from another tribe, in which no one attends before the altar.	13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord arose out of Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning priests.	14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
15 And yet it is far more evident that, according to the likeness of Melchizedek, there rises up another priest,	15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,
16 who was made, not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the virtue of an indissoluble life.	16 who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life.
17 For he testifies: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”	17 For it is witnessed of him, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."
18 Certainly, there is a setting aside of the former commandment, because of its weakness and lack of usefulness.	18 On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness
19 For the law led no one to perfection, yet truly it introduced a better hope, through which we draw near to God.	19 (for the law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
20 Moreover, it is not without an oath. For certainly, the others were made priests without an oath.	20 And it was not without an oath.
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.”	21 Those who formerly became priests took their office without an oath, but this one was addressed with an oath, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'Thou art a priest for ever.'"
22 By so much, Jesus has been made the sponsor of a better testament.	22 This makes Jesus the surety of a better covenant.
23 And certainly, so many of the others became priests because, due to death, they were prohibited from continuing.	23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office;
24 But this man, because he continues forever, has an everlasting priesthood.	24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever.
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.	25 Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
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.	26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
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.	27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
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.	28 Indeed, 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 for ever.