Hebrews

7 For this Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who came to meet Abraham as he returned from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tithe of everything,—translated, in the first place, “King of Righteousness,” and then also “king of Salem,” which is “king of peace,” 3 fatherless, motherless, pedigreeless, not having either a beginning of days or an end of life but put in like condition with the Son of God,—remains a priest in perpetuity. 4 And see what a man this was, to whom Abraham, the founder of the nation, gave a tithe out of the spoils! 5* and those of the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood have orders to tithe the people in accordance with the law, that is, to tithe their brothers even though they have come out of Abraham’s loins; 6 but he who does not count his ancestry from them has tithed Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And beyond any dispute the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 And here men who die receive tithes, but there one who has it attested that he lives. 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, he who receives tithes, has been tithed; 10 for he was still in his father’s loins when Melchisedek came to meet him.

11* So if perfection was attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for the people has its legislation on that basis), what more need was there that another priest be set up in such station as Melchisedek’s was and not be said to be in such station as Aaron’s? 12 for when the priesthood is shifted there necessarily comes a shift of law too. 13* For he of whom these things are said is a member of another tribe, from which nobody has tended the altar; 14 for it is a conspicuous fact that our Lord has arisen out of Judah, with reference to which tribe Moses spoke nothing about priests. 15 And it is all the more evident if in likeness to Melchisedek another priest is set up 16 who has become such not as determined by the law of a commandment for flesh but as determined by the power of indestructible life; 17 for he has the attestation “You are a priest forever in such station as Melchisedek’s was.”

18 For there ensues abrogation of a prior commandment because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law did not complete anything) and introduction of a better hope through which we approach God. 20 And so far as regards its not being without the taking of an oath 21 (for those are priests made such without the taking of an oath, but he with the taking of an oath, through him who says to him “The Lord has sworn, and will not revoke it, ‘You are priest forever’”), 22 to that extent has Jesus become guarantor of a better covenant. 23 And those have been a number of priests because prevented by death from staying in their place; 24 but he, because of remaining forever, has his priesthood inalienable, 25 wherefore he can totally save those who come to God through him, he being always alive to intercede for them. 26* For such a high priest was the right one for us, godly, innocent, unpolluted, separated from sinners and risen to be higher than the heavens, 27 who does not, like the high priests, have daily necessity to offer sacrifices first for his own sins, then for those of the people; for this he did once for all in making the offering of himself. 28 For the law appoints men as high priests, men who have weaknesses; but the oath-taking word that came after the law a Son, perfected forever.