King James Version KJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
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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;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
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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 descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
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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 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
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See how great he is! Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of the spoils.
5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
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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 he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
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But this man who has not their genealogy received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
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It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
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Here tithes are received by mortal men; there, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
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One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
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for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchiz'edek met him.
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
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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?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
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For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
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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 sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
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For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
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This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchiz'edek,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
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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 testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
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For it is witnessed of him, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchiz'edek."
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
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On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
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(for the law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
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And it was not without an oath.
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
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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 was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
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This makes Jesus the surety of a better covenant.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
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The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office;
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
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but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
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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 such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
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For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
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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 maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
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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.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.