1For this Melchisedec, King of Salem, Priest of the Most High God, Who met Abraham as he was returning from his slaughter of the kings, and blessed him, 2And to Whom Abraham gave a tenth part of all; on the one hand, being interpreted King of Righteousness; and on the other hand, King of Salem, which is King of Peace; 3Without father, without mother, without genealogy; having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but having been made like the Son of God, remains a Priest forever.

4But consider how great this one was to Whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5For on the one hand, those from among the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood are commanded by the law to collect tithes from the people--that is, from their brethren--even though they are all descended from Abraham; 6But on the other hand, He Who was not descended from them received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises. 7Now it is beyond all doubt that the inferior one is blessed by the superior one. 8And in the first case, men who die receive tithes; but in the other case, He received tithes of Whom it is witnessed that He lives forever. 9And in one sense, Levi, who receives tithes, also gave tithes through Abraham; 10For he was still in his forefather's loins when Melchisedec met him.

11Therefore, if perfection was indeed possible through the Levitical priesthood-- for the law that the people had received was based on it--what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchisedec, and not to be named after the order of Aaron? 12For since the priesthood has changed, it is obligatory that a change of the priestly law also take place; 13Because the One of Whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one was appointed to serve at the altar. 14For it is quite evident that our Lord has descended from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning the priesthood. 15And it is even more evident because a different Priest arises according to the order of Melchisedec; 16Who was not invested according to the priestly law of a fleshly commandment, but by the power of indestructible life.

17For He testifies, "You are a Priest forever according to the order of Melchisedec."

18For there is indeed an annulment of the earlier commandment delivered to Aaron because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19Because the priestly law brought nothing to perfection; rather, perfection is brought about by a superior hope, through which we draw near to God. 20And according to this superior measure, it was not without the swearing of an oath that He was made a Priest. (For those who descend from Aaron are made priests without the swearing of an oath;

21But He was made a Priest with the swearing of an oath by Him Who says concerning Him, "The Lord swore and will not revoke His word, 'You are a Priest forever according to the order of Melchisedec. ' ")

22By such a greater measure then, Jesus was made the Guarantor of a superior covenant.

23Now in the one case, there were many priests because they were not able to continue to serve by reason of death; 24But in the other case, because He is living forever, His priesthood never changes. 25Therefore, He has the power throughout all time to save those who come to God through Him because He is ever living to intercede for them.

26For it is fitting that we should have such a High Priest Who is holy, blameless, undefiled, set apart from sinners and made higher than the heavens; 27Who has no need, as do the other high priests, to offer up sacrifices day by day, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people; for this He did once for all time when He offered up Himself. 28For the priestly law makes high priests of men who have weaknesses; but by the word of the swearing of the oath, which supersedes the priestly law, the Son, Who has been perfected forever, has been made High Priest.