1: For this Melchisedec, 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 to the Son of God; abideth 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 verily they that 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 from the loins of Abraham: 6: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7: And without all contradiction the less is blessed by the better. 8: And here men that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is testified that he liveth. 9: And as I may say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10: For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec 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 rise after the order of Melchisedec, 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 pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14: For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang from Judah; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15: And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16: Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17: For he testifieth, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 18: For there is verily a disannulling of the preceding commandment on account of its weakness and unprofitableness. 19: For the law made nothing perfect, but the introduction of a better hope [did]; by which we draw nigh to God. 20: And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made 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 Melchisedec:) 22: By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23: And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24: But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25: Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26: For such a high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27: Who needeth not 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 maketh men high priests who have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
