1 For this Melchisedec, King of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from smiting the kings, and blessed him;2 to whom Abraham gave also the tenth portion of all; first being interpreted King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is King of peace;3 without father, without mother, without genealogy; having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but assimilated to the Son of God, abides a priest continually.4 Now consider how great this {personage} was, to whom {even} the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth out of the spoils.5 And they indeed from among the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is from their brethren, though these are come out of the loins of Abraham:6 but he who has no genealogy from them has tithed Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises.7 But beyond all gainsaying, the inferior is blessed by the better.8 And here dying men receive tithes; but there {one} of whom the witness is that he lives;9 and, so to speak, through Abraham, Levi also, who received tithes, has been made to pay tithes.10 For he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchisedec met him.11 If indeed then perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, for the people had their law given to them in connexion with *it*, what need {was there} still that a different priest should arise according to the order of Melchisedec, and not be named after the order of Aaron?12 For, the priesthood being changed, there takes place of necessity a change of law also.13 For he, of whom these things are said, belongs to a different tribe, of which no one has {ever} been attached to the service of the altar.14 For it is clear that our Lord has sprung out of Juda, as to which tribe Moses spake nothing as to priests.15 And it is yet more abundantly evident, since a different priest arises according to the similitude of Melchisedec,16 who has been constituted not according to law of fleshly commandment, but according to power of indissoluble life.17 For it is borne witness, *Thou* art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedec.18 For there is a setting aside of the commandment going before for its weakness and unprofitableness,19 (for the law perfected nothing,) and the introduction of a better hope by which we draw nigh to God.20 And by how much {it was} not without the swearing of an oath;21 (for they are become priests without the swearing of an oath, but he with the swearing of an oath, by him who said, as to him, The Lord has sworn, and will not repent {of it}, *Thou* {art} priest for ever {according to the order of Melchisedec};)22 by so much Jesus became surety of a better covenant.23 And they have been many priests, on account of being hindered from continuing by death;24 but he, because of his continuing for ever, has the priesthood unchangeable.25 Whence also he is able to save completely those who approach by him to God, always living to intercede for them.26 For such a high priest became us, holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and become higher than the heavens:27 who has not day by day need, as the high priests, first to offer up sacrifices for his own sins, then {for} those of the people; for this he did once for all {in} having offered up himself.28 For the law constitutes men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the swearing of the oath which {is} after the law, a Son perfected for ever.

1 Want hierdie Melgis,dek was koning van Salem, priester van God, die Allerhoogste, wat vir Abraham tegemoetgegaan het by sy terugkeer toe hy die konings verslaan het, en hom geseënhet;2 aan wie Abraham ook 'n tiende deel van alles gegee het -- hy was in die eerste plek, volgens uitleg, koning van die geregtigheid en dan ook koning van Salem, dit is koning van vrede;3 sonder vader, sonder moeder, sonder geslagsregister, sonder begin van dae of lewenseinde, maar gelykgestel aan die Seun van God, bly hy priester altyddeur.4 Let nou op hoe groot hierdie man was, aan wie selfs Abraham, die aartsvader, 'n tiende van die buit gegee het.5 Nou het hulle wat uit die seuns van Levi die priesterskap ontvang, wel 'n gebod om, volgens die wet, van die volk tiendes te neem, dit is van hulle broers, ofskoon hulle uit die lendene van Abraham voortgekom het;6 maar hy wat nie uit hulle sy geslagsregister aflei nie, het van Abraham tiendes geneem en die besitter van die beloftes geseën.7 Nou word sonder enige teëspraak die mindere deur die meerdere geseën.8 En hier neem wel sterflike mense tiendes, maar d r een van wie getuig word dat hy lewe.9 En, om so te sê, het ook Levi wat tiendes ontvang, deur Abraham tiendes gegee;10 want hy was nog in die lendene van sy vader toe Melgis,dek hom tegemoetgegaan het.11 As daar dan volkomenheid deur die Levitiese priesterskap was -- want met die oog daarop het die volk die wet ontvang -- waarom was dit nog nodig dat 'n ander priester moes opstaan volgens die orde van Melgis,dek en dat hy dit nie volgens die orde van A„ron genoem word nie?12 Want met verandering van die priesterskap kom daar noodsaaklik ook verandering van wet;13 omdat Hy met die oog op wie hierdie dinge gesê word, aan 'n ander stam behoort het waaruit niemand die altaar bedien het nie.14 Want dit is volkome duidelik dat onse Here uit Juda voortgespruit het, en met betrekking tot hierdie stam het Moses niks gesê van die priesterskap nie.15 En nog baie duideliker is dit as daar 'n ander priester opstaan na die ewebeeld van Melgis,dek,16 een wat dit geword het nie kragtens die wet van 'n vleeslike gebod nie, maar uit die krag van die onvernietigbare lewe.17 Want Hy getuig: U is priester vir ewig volgens die orde van Melgis,dek.18 Want aan die een kant is daar die opheffing van die voorafgaande gebod weens die swakheid en nutteloosheid daarvan,19 omdat die wet niks volkome gemaak het nie; maar aan die ander kant is daar die invoering van 'n beter hoop waardeur ons tot God nader.20 En vir sover dit nie sonder eedswering was nie -- want hulle het sonder eedswering priesters geword,21 maar Hy met eedswering deur die Een wat aan Hom gesê het: Die Here het gesweer en dit sal Hom nie berou nie: U is priester vir ewig volgens die orde van Melgis,dek --22 in sover het Jesus van 'n beter verbond borg geword.23 En hulle het wel priesters geword in 'n groot aantal, omdat hulle deur die dood verhinder is om aan te bly;24 maar Hy, omdat Hy vir ewig bly, besit 'n priesterskap wat nie op ander oorgaan nie.25 Daarom kan Hy ook volkome red die wat deur Hom tot God gaan, omdat Hy altyd leef om vir hulle in te tree.26 Want so 'n hoëpriester was vir ons gepas, een wat heilig, onskuldig, onbesmet, afgeskeie van die sondaars is, en wat hoër as die hemele geword het;27 wat nie elke dag nodig het, soos die hoëpriesters, om eers vir sy eie sondes offers te bring en dan vir die van die volk nie. Want dit het Hy net een maal gedoen toe Hy Homself geoffer het.28 Want die wet stel as hoëpriesters aan mense met swakhede, maar die woord van die eedswering wat n die wet gekom het, stel die Seun aan, wat vir ewig volmaak is.