1. For this Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2. To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3. Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like the Son of God; remains a priest continually.
4. Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5. And truly those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6. But he whose descent is not traced from them received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises.
7. And without all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.
8. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.
9. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.
10. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedek met him.
11. If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12. For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13. For he of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, of which no one served at the altar.
14. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
15. And it is yet far more evident: for after the likeness of Melchisedek there arises another priest,
16. Who comes into being, not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.
17. For he testifies, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek.
18. For there is truly a cancellation of the commandment that came before because of its weakness and unprofitableness.
19. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by which we draw near to God.
20. And considering that not without an oath was he made a priest:
21. (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said to him, The Lord swore and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek:)
22. By so much was Jesus made a guarantee of a better covenant.
23. And they truly were many priests, because they were not permitted to continue because of death:
24. But this man, because he continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.
25. Therefore he is able also to save to the greatest extent those who come to God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.
26. For such a high priest was suited to us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27. Who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28. For the law makes men high priests who have weaknesses; but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
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