HEBREWS 5 [†]For every high priest chosen from among men  j is appointed to act on behalf of men  k in relation to God,  l to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 m He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself  n is beset with weakness. 3Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins  o just as he does for those of the people. 4And  p no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God,  q just as Aaron was.

5[†]So also Christ  r did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

 s “You are my Son,

today I have begotten you”;

6as he says also in another place,

 t “You are a priest forever,

after the order of Melchizedek.”

7[†]In the days of his flesh,  u Jesus [1] offered up prayers and supplications,  v with loud cries and tears, to him  w who was able to save him from death, and  x he was heard because of his reverence. 8[†]Although  y he was a son,  z he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9[†]And  a being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10being designated by God a high priest  b after the order of Melchizedek.

11[†]About this we have much to say, and it is  c 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  d the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need  e milk, not solid food, 13for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is  f a child. 14But solid food is for  g the mature, for those who have their powers  h of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.