was. 5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but it was he who said to him, "You are my son, today I have begotten you"; 6 as he says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek." 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his godly fear. 8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered; 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. 11 About this we have much to say which is 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 the first principles of God's word. You need milk, not solid food; 13 for every one who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their sense trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. 6 1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 with instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do, if God permits. 4 For it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put him to an open shame. 7 For land which drinks the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned. 9 Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that accompany salvation. 10 For God is not so unjust as to forget your work and the love which you have shown for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same diligence in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, "I will surely bless you and multiply you." 15 And so Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. 16 Men swear by one greater than