Denne Melkisedek, kongen av Salem, prest for Gud den Høyeste, velsignet Abraham da han kom tilbake etter å ha slått kongene.

For this Melchizedek, the king of Salem, a priest of the Most High God, who gave Abraham his blessing, meeting him when he came back after putting the kings to death,

Til ham ga Abraham en tiendedel av alt han eide. Han ble først kalt Rettferdighetens konge, og deretter også Salem-konge, det vil si Fredens konge.

And to whom Abraham gave a tenth part of everything which he had, being first named King of righteousness, and then in addition, King of Salem, that is to say, King of peace;

Han er uten far eller mor eller slekt, har ingen begynnelse eller slutt på sitt liv, men er gjort lik Guds Sønn, en prest for alltid.

Being without father or mother, or family, having no birth or end to his life, being made like the Son of God, is a priest for ever.

Se hvor stor denne mannen var, som vår far Abraham ga en tiendedel av seirebyttet til.

Now see how great this man was, to whom our father Abraham gave a tenth part of what he had got in the fight.

Og det er sant at etter loven har de av Levis sønner som er prester, rett til å ta en tiendedel av folkets eiendeler, selv om de også er etterkommere av Abraham.

And it is true that by the law, those of the sons of Levi who have the position of priests may take a tenth part of the people's goods; that is to say, they take it from their brothers though these are the sons of Abraham.

Men denne mannen, som ikke tilhørte deres slekt, tok tiende fra Abraham og velsignet ham som hadde fått Guds løfter.

But this man, who was not of their family, took the tenth from Abraham, and gave a blessing to him to whom God had given his undertaking.

Men det er ingen tvil om at den mindre velsignes av den større.

But there is no doubt that the less gets his blessing from the greater.

Nå, i vår tid, er det dødelige menn som tar tiende; men da var det en som det er vitnet om at han lever.

Now at the present time, men over whom death has power take the tenth; but then it was taken by one of whom it is witnessed that he is living.

Og vi kan si at gjennom Abraham ga også Levi, som har rett til å ta tiende, det;

And we may say that in Abraham, even Levi, who has a right to take the tenth part, gave it;

Fordi han allerede var i sin fars kropp da Melkisedek møtte ham.

Because he was still in his father's body when Melchizedek came to him.

Nå, hvis fullkommenhet kunne oppnås gjennom leviske prester (for loven ble gitt i forbindelse med dem), hva var behovet for en annen prest etter Melkisedeks orden, og ikke etter Arons orden?

Now if it was possible for things to be made complete through the priests of the house of Levi (for the law was given to the people in connection with them), what need was there for another priest who was of the order of Melchizedek and not of the order of Aaron?

For når prester blir endret, er det nødvendig å endre loven også.

Because if the priests are changed, it is necessary to make a change in the law.

For han som dette gjelder, tilhører en annen stamme, som ingen har gjort offer ved alteret fra.

For he of whom these things are said comes of another tribe, of which no man has ever made offerings at the altar.

For det er klart at vår Herre stammer fra Juda, og Moses sa ingenting om prester fra den stammen.

Because it is clear that our Lord comes out of Judah, and Moses said nothing about priests from that tribe.

Dette er enda klarere hvis en annen prest står fram, som er lik Melkisedek,

And this is even more clear if a second priest has come up who is like Melchizedek,

Det vil si ikke gjort ved en lov basert på kjødet, men ved kraften av et evigvarende liv.

That is to say, not made by a law based on the flesh, but by the power of a life without end:

For det er vitnet om ham: Du er prest for alltid etter Melkisedeks orden.

For it has been witnessed of him, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Dermed er den tidligere loven satt til side fordi den var svak og uten nytte.

So the law which went before is put on one side, because it was feeble and without profit.

(For loven gjorde ingenting fullkomment) og i stedet er det et bedre håp, gjennom hvilket vi kommer nær Gud.

(Because the law made nothing complete), and in its place there is a better hope, through which we come near to God.

Og dette er ikke uten eds avleggelse.

And as this is not without the taking of an oath

(For de andre ble gjort til prester uten ed, men denne med en ed av ham som sa om ham: Herren har sverget, og han vil ikke angre: Du er prest for alltid);

(For those were made priests without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by him who says of him, The Lord gave his oath, which he will not take back, that you are a priest for ever);

Så mye bedre er den pakten som vi har gjennom Jesus.

By so much is it a better agreement which we have through Jesus.

Og det er sant at det har vært mange prester, fordi døden hindret dem fra å fortsette.

And it is true that there have been a great number of those priests, because death does not let them go on for ever;

Men denne presten, siden han lever for alltid, er uforanderlig.

But this priest, because his life goes on for ever, is unchanging.

Derfor er han fullstendig i stand til å frelse alle som kommer til Gud ved ham, fordi han alltid lever for å gå i forbønn for dem.

So that he is fully able to be the saviour of all who come to God through him, because he is ever living to make prayer to God for them.

Det var passende at vi skulle ha en slik yppersteprest, hellig, uskyldig, uten synd, adskilt fra syndere og opphøyet over himlene.

It was right for us to have such a high priest, one who is holy and without evil, doing no wrong, having no part with sinners, and made higher than the heavens:

Han har ikke behov for å ofre for sine egne synder før, og så for folkets, som de andre yppersteprestene, fordi han gjorde dette en gang for alle da han ofret seg selv.

Who has no need to make offerings for sins every day, like those high priests, first for himself, and then for the people; because he did this once and for ever when he made an offering of himself.

Loven gjør mennesker, som er svake, til yppersteprester; men eden som kom etter loven, gjør en Sønn, i hvem all godhet er fullkomment for alltid.

The law makes high priests of men who are feeble; but the word of the oath, which was made after the law, gives that position to a Son, in whom all good is for ever complete.