7:1 For this Melchiz'edek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him;
7:1 This "King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him";

7:2 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.
7:2 and to him Abraham apportioned "one-tenth of everything." His name, in the first place, means "king of righteousness"; next he is also king of Salem, that is, "king of peace."

7:3 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.
7:3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

7:4 See how great he is! Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of the spoils.
7:4 See how great he is! Even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils.

7:5 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.
7:5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their kindred, though these also are descended from Abraham.

7:6 But this man who has not their genealogy received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7:6 But this man, who does not belong to their ancestry, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises.

7:7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
7:7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.

7:8 Here tithes are received by mortal men; there, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.
7:8 In the one case, tithes are received by those who are mortal; in the other, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.

7:9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
7:9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,

7:10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchiz'edek met him.
7:10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

7:11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levit'ical 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 Melchiz'edek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?
7:11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the levitical priesthood--for the people received the law under this priesthood--what further need would there have been to speak of another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than one according to the order of Aaron?

7:12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.
7:12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.

7:13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
7:13 Now the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

7:14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
7:14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

7:15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchiz'edek,
7:15 It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek,

7:16 who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life.
7:16 one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life.

7:17 For it is witnessed of him, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchiz'edek."
7:17 For it is attested of him, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."

7:18 On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness
7:18 There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual

7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God.

7:20 And it was not without an oath.
7:20 This was confirmed with an oath; for others who became priests took their office without an oath,

7:21 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.'"
7:21 but this one became a priest with an oath, because of the one who said to him, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever'"--

7:22 This makes Jesus the surety of a better covenant.
7:22 accordingly Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.

7:23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office;
7:23 Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office;

7:24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever.
7:24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.

7:25 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.
7:25 Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

7:26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
7:26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

7:27 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.
7:27 Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself.

7:28 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.
7:28 For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.