Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Revised Standard NRS
1 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:
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This "King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him";
2 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:
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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."
3 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.
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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.
4 Now consider how great this man is, to whom also Abraham the patriarch gave tithes out of the principal things.
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See how great he is! Even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils.
5 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.
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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.
6 But he, whose pedigree is not numbered among them, received tithes of Abraham and blessed him that had the promises.
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But this man, who does not belong to their ancestry, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises.
7 And without all contradiction, that which is less is blessed by the better.
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It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
8 And here indeed, men that die receive tithes: but there, he hath witness that he liveth.
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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.
9 And (as it may be said) even Levi who received tithes paid 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 Melchisedech met him.
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for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
11 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?
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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?
12 For the priesthood being translated, it is necessary that a translation also be made 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 is of another tribe, of which no one attended on the altar.
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Now 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 sprung out of Juda: in which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
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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: if according to the similitude of Melchisedech there ariseth another priest,
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It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek,
16 Who is made, not according to the law of a law of a carnal commandment, but according to the power of an indissoluble life.
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one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life.
17 For he testifieth: Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.
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For it is attested of him, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."
18 There is indeed a setting aside of the former commandment, because of the weakness and unprofitableness thereof:
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There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual
19 For the law brought nothing to perfection: but a bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh to God.
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(for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God.
20 And inasmuch as it is not without an oath (for the others indeed were made priests without an oath:
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This was confirmed with an oath; for others who became priests took their office without an oath,
21 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).
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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' "—
22 By so much is Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
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accordingly Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 And the others indeed were made many priests, because by reason of death they were not suffered to continue:
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Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office;
24 But this, for that he continueth for ever, hath an everlasting priesthood:
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but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.
25 Whereby he is able also to save for ever them that come to God by him; always living to make intercession for us.
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Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach 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, separated 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, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27 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.
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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.
28 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.
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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.
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New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 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.