He is the reflection of God's glory, and the representation of his being, and bears up the universe by his mighty word. He has effected man's purification from sin, and has taken his seat on high at the right hand of God's Majesty,

For someone has somewhere solemnly declared, "What is man? for you think of him; Or any man? for you care for him.

You have put everything under his feet!" In thus making everything subject to man, God left nothing that was not subjected to him. But we do not as yet see everything made subject to him,

and free from their slavery men who had always lived in fear of death.

For every high priest who is chosen from among men is appointed to represent his fellow-men in their relations with God, and to offer gifts and sin-offerings.

And no one takes the office upon himself, but men assume it only when called to it by God, as Aaron was.

But full-grown men have a right to solid food, for their faculties are trained by practice to distinguish right and wrong.

For men make oath by something greater than themselves, and they accept an oath as settling finally any disagreement they may have.

For this man Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was on his way back from defeating the kings, and gave him his blessing,

Now see how great this man must have been to have the patriarch Abraham give him a tenth of the spoil.

But this man, whose ancestry is not connected with theirs, collected tithes from Abraham himself, and gave his blessing to the man who had received the promises from God.

In the one case, mortal men collect tithes; but in the other, one who, it is intimated, lives on.

Such a high priest we needed??odly, blameless, unstained, removed from sinful men and raised above the very heavens;

For the Law appoints to the high priesthood men full of imperfection; but this utterance about the making of the oath, which came long after the Law, appoints a son, fully qualified to be high priest forever.

Now the main point in what I am saying is this: We have such a high priest as this, and he has taken his seat in heaven at the right hand of God's Majesty,

to officiate as priest in the sanctuary and in that true tent of worship which not man but the Lord himself set up.

stood the gold incense-altar and the chest that contained the agreement, entirely covered with gold, with the gold jar in it that held the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets containing the agreement;

And just as men are destined to die once and after that to be judged,

And he whom I accept as righteous will find life through his faith. But if a man draws back, my heart can take no pleasure in him."

For it was by it that the men of old gained God's approval.

Faith made Abel's sacrifice greater in the sight of God than Cain's; through faith he gained God's approval as an upright man, for God himself approved his offering, and through faith even when he was dead he still spoke.

And so from one man, for any prospect of descendants as good as dead, there sprang a people in number like the stars in the heavens or the countless sands on the seashore.

For men who recognize that show that they are in search of a country of their own.

For he believed that God was able to raise men even from the dead, and from the dead he did indeed, to speak figuratively, receive him back.

They were stoned to death, they were tortured to death, they were sawed in two, they were killed with the sword. Clothed in the skins of sheep or goats, they were driven from place to place, destitute, persecuted, misused??38 men of whom the world was not worthy wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the ground.

to the solemn gathering of all God's elder sons, enrolled as citizens in heaven, to a judge who is the God of all, to the spirits of upright men now at last enjoying the fulfilment of their hopes,

So that we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can men do to me?"

Do not forget your former leaders, the men who brought you God's message. Remember how they ended their lives and imitate their faith.

Obey your leaders and give way to them, for they are keeping watch in defense of your souls, as men accountable for the trust. Make their work a joy and not a grief, for that would be the worse for you.

Pray for me, for I am sure I have a clear conscience, and I mean in every way to live an upright life.