1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

2 He can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is beset with weakness.

3 Because of this he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

4 And no one takes the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was.

5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but it was he who said to him, »You are my son,today I have begotten you«;

6 as he says also in another place, »You are a priest forever,after the order of Melchizedek.«

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his godly fear.

8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered;

9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,

10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

11 About this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of God's word. You need milk, not solid food;

13 for every one who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their sense trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.