Hebrews 7 (YLT)

1For this Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who did meet Abraham turning back from the smiting of the kings, and did bless him,This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2to whom also a tenth of all did Abraham divide, (first, indeed, being interpreted, 'King of righteousness,' and then also, King of Salem, which is, King of Peace,)and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

3without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, and being made like to the Son of God, doth remain a priest continually.Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.

4And see how great this one is, to whom also a tenth Abraham the patriarch did give out of the best of the spoils,Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.

5and those, indeed, out of the sons of Levi receiving the priesthood, a command have to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, their brethren, even though they came forth out of the loins of Abraham;Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.

6and he who was not reckoned by genealogy of them, received tithes from Abraham, and him having the promises he hath blessed,But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

7and apart from all controversy, the less by the better is blessed —And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.

8and here, indeed, men who die do receive tithes, and there he, who is testified to that he was living,In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on.

9and so to speak, through Abraham even Levi who is receiving tithes, hath paid tithes,And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.

10for he was yet in the loins of the father when Melchisedek met him.For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.

11If indeed, then, perfection were through the Levitical priesthood — for the people under it had received law — what further need, according to the order of Melchisedek, for another priest to arise, and not to be called according to the order of Aaron?Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?

12for the priesthood being changed, of necessity also, of the law a change doth come,For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.

13for he of whom these things are said in another tribe hath had part, of whom no one gave attendance at the altar,He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

14for it is evident that out of Judah hath arisen our Lord, in regard to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.

15And it is yet more abundantly most evident, if according to the similitude of Melchisedek there doth arise another priest,And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,

16who came not according to the law of a fleshly command, but according to the power of an endless life,one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.

17for He doth testify — 'Thou art a priest — to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;'For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

18for a disannulling indeed doth come of the command going before because of its weakness, and unprofitableness,So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless

19(for nothing did the law perfect) and the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw nigh to God.(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20And inasmuch as it is not apart from oath, (for those indeed apart from oath are become priests,And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,

21and he with an oath through Him who is saying unto him, 'The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou art a priest — to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;')but Jesus became 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.’”

22by so much of a better covenant hath Jesus become surety,Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

23and those indeed are many who have become priests, because by death they are hindered from remaining;Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.

24and he, because of his remaining — to the age, hath the priesthood not transient,But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.

25whence also he is able to save to the very end, those coming through him unto God — ever living to make intercession for them.Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

26For such a chief priest did become us — kind, harmless, undefiled, separate from the sinners, and become higher than the heavens,Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

27who hath no necessity daily, as the chief priests, first for his own sins to offer up sacrifice, then for those of the people; for this he did once, having offered up himself;Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.

28for the law doth appoint men chief priests, having infirmity, but the word of the oath that is after the law appointeth the Son — to the age having been perfected.For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Hebrews 7

Melchizedek and Abraham

A Superior Priesthood

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