4Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch, Abraham, gave the tenth of his spoils (plunder). 5And verily the law of Moses requires that the sons (descendants) of Levi, who, in the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes (a tenth part) from the people, that is, their fellow Israelites, even though they are also descended from Abraham; 6But Melchizedec, who is not descended from them (the Levites), received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises from God. 7And without question, the lesser is blessed by the better. 8And here, in one case, priests - men who die - receive tithes; but that case, he, of whom it is testified that he lives on, receives tithes. 9And one may even say that Levi, also, who receives tithes, paid tithes to Melchizedec when their ancestor, Abraham, did so. 10Because he (Levi) was yet in the loins of his father (Abraham), when Melchizedec met Abraham.

11If, therefore, God’s purposes could have been achieved by the Levitical priesthood - for through the Levitical priesthood, the people received the law - what further need would there have been that another Priest should arise after the order of Melchizedec (Ps.110:4), and not after the order of Aaron? 12For when the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it. 13For He, of Whom these things are said, belonged to another tribe (not of Levi), and no one of that tribe had ever served at the altar. 14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing about priests or the priesthood. 15And it is even more evident if another Priest after the order of Melchizedec arises, 16Who became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of descent from the tribe of Levi, but by the power of an endless (indestructible) life. 17And the psalmist declared, “You are a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedec”. (Ps.110:4)

18For there is truly an annulling (or setting aside) of the old requirement because it was weak and ineffective. 19For the law never made anything perfect, but we have confidence in a better hope, by which we draw near to God. 20And it was not without a solemn oath that He was made Priest! 21For those others were made priests without an oath, but this Priest by an oath by Him that said of Him, “The Lord swore and will not repent, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedec” (Ps.110:4), 22Because of this oath, Jesus was made the guarantor of a better covenant with God. 23And there have truly been many priests, because, by reason of death, they were not allowed to continue in office; 24But because this Man, Jesus, continues forever, He has an unchangeable (permanent) priesthood. 25Therefore, He is able also to save those to the uttermost those that come to God by Him, because He lives forever to intercede for them.

26For such a high Priest truly meets our needs – a Priest Who is holy, sinless, pure, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens; 27 A Priest Who does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, as did those high priests, first for his own sins, and then for the people's. Christ did this once for all, when He offered up Himself. 28For the law appointed men as high priests who were limited by their fleshly weaknesses; but God’s solemn oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son, Who is the perfect High Priest, for evermore.