Hebrews 7

¹For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

²to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all, first being interpreted 'king of righteousness,' then also 'king of Salem,' which is 'king of peace,'

³Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

⁴Now consider how great this one was, to whom even Abraham gave a tenth from the best spoils — the patriarch.

⁵And those from the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment to collect tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brothers, even though they have come from the loins of Abraham.

⁶But the one not traced by genealogy from them has collected tithes from Abraham and has blessed the one who has the promises.

⁷Now, without any dispute, the lesser is blessed by the greater.

⁸And here on the one hand dying men receive tithes, but there one being testified that he lives.

⁹And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi — who receives tithes — has paid tithes.

¹⁰for he was still in the loin of his father when Melchizedek met him.

¹¹If indeed then perfection was through the Levitical priesthood — for the people have received the law on its basis — what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not to be named according to the order of Aaron?

¹²for when the priesthood is changed, of necessity a change of the law also takes place.

¹³For the one about whom these things are said has belonged to another tribe, from which no one has served at the altar.

¹⁴For it is evident that our Lord has sprung from Judah, a tribe in regard to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

¹⁵And it is yet more abundantly evident, if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,

¹⁶who has become not according to a law of a fleshly commandment but according to the power of an indestructible life.

¹⁷For it is testified that you are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.

¹⁸For on the one hand an annulment of the preceding commandment comes to pass because of its weakness and uselessness,

¹⁹For the law perfected nothing, but there is an introduction of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

²⁰And inasmuch as not without an oath-taking,

²¹but the one with an oath-taking, through the one saying to him, 'The Lord swore and will not repent, you are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek,'

²²By so much also Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

²³And those indeed have become priests in large numbers, because they are prevented by death from continuing in office.

²⁴but he, because of his abiding forever, holds a permanent priesthood.

²⁵Wherefore also He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

²⁶For such a high priest was also fitting for us — holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and having become higher than the heavens;

²⁷who does not need daily, as the high priests, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for those of the people; for He did this once for all when He offered up Himself.

²⁸For the law appoints men as high priests having weakness, but the word of the oath after the law appoints a Son perfected forever.