English Standard Version ESV
Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
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,
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For this Melchisedech was king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him:
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.
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To whom also Abraham divided the tithes of all: who first indeed by interpretation is king of justice: and then also king of Salem, that is, king of peace:
3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
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Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but likened unto the Son of God, continueth a priest for ever.
4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!
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Now consider how great this man is, to whom also Abraham the patriarch gave tithes out of the principal things.
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 brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.
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And indeed they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is to say, of their brethren: though they themselves also came out of the loins of Abraham.
6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
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But he, whose pedigree is not numbered among them, received tithes of Abraham and blessed him that had the promises.
7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
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And without all contradiction, that which is less is blessed by the better.
8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.
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And here indeed, men that die receive tithes: but there, he hath witness that he liveth.
9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
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And (as it may be said) even Levi who received tithes paid tithes in Abraham:
10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
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For he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchisedech met him.
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?
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If then perfection was by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchisedech: and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.
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For the priesthood being translated, it is necessary that a translation also be made of the law,
13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
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For he of whom these things are spoken is of another tribe, of which no one attended on the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
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For it is evident that our Lord sprung out of Juda: in which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,
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And it is yet far more evident: if according to the similitude of Melchisedech there ariseth another priest,
16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.
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Who is made, not according to the law of a law of a carnal commandment, but according to the power of an indissoluble life.
17 For it is witnessed of him, "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek."
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For he testifieth: Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.
18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness
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There is indeed a setting aside of the former commandment, because of the weakness and unprofitableness thereof:
19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
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For the law brought nothing to perfection: but a bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh to God.
20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath,
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And inasmuch as it is not without an oath (for the others indeed were made priests without an oath:
21 but this one was made 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.'"
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But this with an oath, by him that said unto him: The Lord hath sworn and he will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever).
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
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By so much is Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,
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And the others indeed were made many priests, because by reason of death they were not suffered to continue:
24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.
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But this, for that he continueth for ever, hath an everlasting priesthood:
25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermostthose who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
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Whereby he is able also to save for ever them that come to God by him; always living to make intercession for us.
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
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For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens:
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, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
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Who needeth not daily (as the other priests) to offer sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, in offering himself.
28 For 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 forever.
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For the law maketh men priests, who have infirmity: but the word of the oath (which was since the law) the Son who is perfected for evermore.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.