7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
7:2 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;
7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
7:4 Now consider how great this man [was], to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
7:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they come from the loins of Abraham:
7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7:7 And without any dispute the less is blessed by the better.
7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
7:9 And as I may say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
7:10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.
7:11 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 Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
7:13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
7:14 For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang from Judah; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest,
7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
7:17 For he testifieth, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
7:18 For there is verily a setting aside of the former commandment on account of its weakness and unprofitableness.
7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by which we draw near to God.
7:20 And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest]:
7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said to him, The Lord swore and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek:)
7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
7:23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not allowed to continue by reason of death:
7:24 But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
7:25 Therefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
7:26 For such an high priest was befitting for us, [who is] holy, blameless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the peoples: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
7:28 For the law maketh men high priests who have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.