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
;
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
;
Without father, without mother
, without descent
, having
neither
beginning
of days
, nor
end
of life
; but
made like
unto the Son
of God
; abideth
a priest
continually
.
Now consider
how great
this man
was , unto whom
even
the patriarch
Abraham
gave
the tenth
of
the spoils
.
And verily
they that are of
the sons
of Levi
, who
receive
the office of the priesthood
, have
a commandment
to take tithes
of the people
according to
the law
, that is
, of their
brethren
, though
they come
out of
the loins
of Abraham
:
But he whose descent is
not
counted
from
them
received tithes
of Abraham
, and
blessed
him that had
the promises
.
And without
all
contradiction
the less
is blessed
of
the better
.
And here
men
that die
receive
tithes
; but
there
he receiveth them , of whom it is witnessed
that
he liveth
.
And as
I may so say
, Levi
also
, who
receiveth
tithes
, payed tithes
in
Abraham
.
For he was
yet
in
the loins
of his father
, when
Melchisedec
met
him
.
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
?
For the priesthood
being changed
, there is made
of
necessity
a change
also
of the law
.
For he of
whom
these things
are spoken
pertaineth
to another
tribe
, of
which
no man
gave attendance
at the altar
.
For it is evident
that
our
Lord
sprang
out of
Juda
; of
which
tribe
Moses
spake
nothing
concerning
priesthood
.
And it is
yet
far more
evident
: for
that after
the similitude
of Melchisedec
there ariseth
another
priest
,
Who is made
, not
after
the law
of a carnal
commandment
, but
after
the power
of an endless
life
.
For he testifieth
,
Thou
art a priest
for
ever
after
the order
of Melchisedec
.
For there is
verily
a disannulling
of the commandment
going before
for
the weakness
and
unprofitableness
thereof
.
For the law
made
nothing
perfect
, but
the bringing in
of a better
hope
did ; by
the which
we draw nigh
unto God
.
And inasmuch as
not
without
an oath
he was made priest :
(For those priests
were
made
without
an oath
; but
this with
an oath
by
him that said
unto
him
, The Lord
sware
and
will
not
repent
, Thou
art a priest
for
ever
after
the order
of Melchisedec
:)
By so much
was
Jesus
made
a surety
of a better
testament
.
And they
truly
were
many
priests
, because they were not suffered
to continue
by reason of
death
:
But this man , because
he
continueth
ever
, hath
an unchangeable
priesthood
.
Wherefore he is able
also
to save them
to
the uttermost
that come
unto God
by
him
, seeing he ever
liveth
to
make intercession
for
them
.
For such
an high priest
became
us
, who is holy
, harmless
, undefiled
, separate
from
sinners
, and
made
higher than
the heavens
;
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
.
For the law
maketh
men
high priests
which have
infirmity
; but
the word
of the oath
, which
was since
the law
, maketh the Son
, who is consecrated
for
evermore
.