1 Iga ülempreester, kes valitakse inimeste hulgast, seatakse esindama inimesi Jumala ees, et tuua ohvreid ja ande pattude lepituseks. 2 Ta suudab kaasa tunda mõistmatutele ja eksijatele, sest ka tema ise on nõrk. 3 Ja sellepärast peab tema nii nagu rahva eest, ka iseenese eest ohvrit tooma pattude pärast. 4 Ja keegi ei saa seda au võtta enesele ise, vaid saab selle Jumala kutsel, nagu Aaron sai.

5 Nii ei ole ka Kristus ülendanud ennast ise ülempreestri ametisse, vaid Jumal ütles talle:

„Sina oled minu Poeg,

täna ma sünnitasin sinu."

6 Nagu ta ka ühes teises kohas ütleb:

„Sina oled igavesti preester

Melkisedeki korra järgi."

7 Oma maise elu päevil tõi Jeesus oma palved ja anumised valju nutu ja pisaratega tema ette, kes teda võis surmast päästa, ja teda võeti kuulda tema allaheitlikkuse tõttu. 8 Ja olles küll Poeg, õppis ta kuulekust selle läbi, mida ta kannatas. 9 Ning kui ta oli tehtud täiuslikuks, sai ta igavese pääste allikaks kõigile, kes on talle kuulekad, 10 ning Jumal nimetas ta ülempreestriks Melkisedeki korra järgi.

11 Sel teemal võiks veel paljugi rääkida, aga seda on teile raske selgeks teha, sest te olete muutunud tuimaks kuulma. 12 Sest teie, kes te selle aja peale peaksite ise olema õpetajad, vajate, et teile uuesti õpetataks Jumala ilmutuse esimesi tõdesid. Te olete jälle saanud nendeks, kes vajavad piima, mitte tahket toitu. 13 Sest igaüks, kes toitub piimast, ei saa õieti aru õpetusest õiguse kohta, sest ta on väike laps. 14 Tahke toit aga on täiskasvanuile, neile, kelle eristusvõime on vilunud vahet tegema hea ja kurja vahel.

1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: 2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. 3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.