1 Katrs augstais priesteris, kas izraudzīts cilvēku labā no cilvēku vidus, ir iecelts kalpošanai Dievam – pienest upurdāvanas un upurus par grēkiem. 2 Tāds spēj just līdzi nezinātājiem un maldīgajiem, jo arī pats ir nespēka apņemts. 3 Tādēļ viņam pienākas upurēt gan par tautas, gan par saviem grēkiem. 4 Neviens neņem šo godu sev pats, bet tiek Dieva aicināts tāpat kā Ārons. 5 Tā arī Kristus, tapdams par augsto priesteri, nav sevi pagodinājis pats, bet gan tas, kas viņam sacījis:
tu esi mans Dēls, šodien es tevi dzemdināju!
6 Tāpat arī citur ir sacīts:
tu esi priesteris uz mūžiem
pēc Melhisedeka kārtas.
7 Kad Kristus savās zemes dzīves dienās ar skaļu kliegšanu un asarām raidīja daudz lūgšanu un saucienu pēc palīdzības tam, kas viņu spēj izglābt no nāves, viņš tika uzklausīts savas padevības dēļ. 8 Un, lai gan viņš bija Dēls, viņš mācījās paklausību ciešanās, 9 un, padarīts pilnīgs, viņš kļuva par mūžīgās pestīšanas avotu visiem tiem, kas viņu paklausa, 10 un Dievs viņu nosauca par augsto priesteri pēc Melhisedeka kārtas.
Brīdinājums no atkrišanas
11 Par to mums būtu daudz ko sacīt, bet to ir grūti izskaidrot, tādēļ ka jūs esat kūtri uzklausīt. 12 Laika ziņā jums gan pienāktos jau būt par skolotājiem, bet kādam atkal jums ir jāmāca Dieva mācības pamatpatiesības. Tā vietā, lai ēstu stipru barību, jūs aizvien vēl dzerat pienu. 13 Nevienam, kas pārtiek no piena, nav patiesības vārda pieredzes, jo viņš ir zīdainis. 14 Bet pieaugušajiem pienākas stipra barība, jo tie ir ievingrinājuši uztveres spēju atšķirt labu no ļauna.
1 Every high priest is chosen from his fellow-men and appointed to serve God on their behalf, to offer sacrifices and offerings for sins. 2 Since he himself is weak in many ways, he is able to be gentle with those who are ignorant and make mistakes. 3 And because he is himself weak, he must offer sacrifices not only for the sins of the people but also for his own sins. 4 No one chooses for himself the honor of being a high priest. It is only by God's call that a man is made a high priest—just as Aaron was.
5 In the same way, Christ did not take upon himself the honor of being a high priest. Instead, God said to him,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.”
6 He also said in another place,
“You will be a priest forever,
in the priestly order of Melchizedek.”
7 In his life on earth Jesus made his prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God, who could save him from death. Because he was humble and devoted, God heard him. 8 But even though he was God's Son, he learned through his sufferings to be obedient. 9 When he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him, 10 and God declared him to be high priest, in the priestly order of Melchizedek.
Warning against Abandoning the Faith
11 There is much we have to say about this matter, but it is hard to explain to you, because you are so slow to understand. 12 There has been enough time for you to be teachers—yet you still need someone to teach you the first lessons of God's message. Instead of eating solid food, you still have to drink milk. 13 Anyone who has to drink milk is still a child, without any experience in the matter of right and wrong. 14 Solid food, on the other hand, is for adults, who through practice are able to distinguish between good and evil.
