17. For He testifies: “You are a priest forever,in the order of Melchizedek.”
18. For there is then an annulling of the previous commandment due to its weakness and uselessness.
19. For the law made nothing perfect, but now a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20. And He was not made a priest without an oath.
21. (Other priests were made without an oath, but this One with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has swornand will not relent,‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’ ”)
22. Through this oath Jesus became the guarantor of a better covenant.
23. And the former priests were numerous because they were hindered from serving because of death.
24. But He, because He lives forever, has an everlasting priesthood.
25. Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, because He at all times lives to make intercession for them.
26. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, for He is holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and is higher than the heavens.
27. Unlike those high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices—first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for He did this once for all when He offered up Himself.
28. For the law appoints men who are weak as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son who is made perfect forever.