Melchizedek and Abraham

1For this Melchizedek, the king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, the one having met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him, 2to whom Abraham divided the tenth from all first, being interpreted, King of righteousness, and then King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but being made like unto the Son of God, he abides a priest continually.

4You see how great this man was, to whom the patriarch Abraham even gave the tenth part of the chief spoils. 5And those indeed of the sons of Levi receiving the priesthood have a commandment to tithe the people according to the law, that is, their brethren, even though having come out from the loins of Abraham: 6but he who did not derive his lineage from them has tithed Abraham, and blessed him having the promises. 7For without contradiction the less is blessed by the better. 8And here indeed men dying, receive tithes; however there, he is witnessed to that he lives. 9And, so to speak a word, Levi, the one receiving tithes, has also been tithed through Abraham. 10For he was still in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

A Superior Priesthood

11Then indeed if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood, for unto it the people have been tithed, what need is there still that another priest shall rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is a change of the law. 13For he unto whom these things were spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one ministers at the altar: 14for it is evident that our Lord sprang from Judah; in reference to which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. 15And it is still more abundantly evident, if after the similitude of Melchizedek another priest rises, 16who was not made after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17For it is testified, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

18For there is a disannulling of the preceding commandment, on account of its weakness and inadequacy 19for the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh unto God. 20And in as much as it is without an oath, for the priests were made without an oath;

21but He with an oath through the one saying to him, The Lord hath sworn, and will not regret it; thou art a priest forever;

22insomuch that Jesus has also been made the mediator of a better covenant.

23And indeed many have been made priests, because they were prohibited by death from continuing: 24but he, because he abides forever, has an unchangeable priesthood: 25wherefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those coming unto God through him, ever living to intercede for them.

26For such a high priest was indeed appropriate unto us, holy, free from sin, undefiled, having been separated from the sinners, and being higher than the heavens; 27who had not daily need, as the high priests, first to offer up sacrifices for their own sins, then those of the people: for he did this, having offered up himself once. 28For the law institutes men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which is after the law, the Son, having been made perfect forever.