For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, that met Abraham returning from smiting the kings, and blessed him;
to whom also Abraham divided a tenth from all, first being interpreted King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is peace,
without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but assimilated to the Son of God, abideth a priest continuously.
Now consider how great he [was] to whom the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth out of the spoils.
And they indeed from among the sons of Levi that receive the priesthood have commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham;
but he who hath no genealogy from them hath tithed Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises.
Now apart from all dispute the less is blessed by the better.
And here dying men receive tithes, but there one witnessed of that he liveth;
and, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi that receiveth tithes hath been tithed.
For he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
If therefore perfection were through the Levitical priesthood, for [based] on it the people had the law, what further need that a different priest should arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be said according to the order of Aaron?
For the priesthood being changed there cometh of necessity a change of law also.
For he of whom these things are said hath part in a different tribe from which no one hath attended to the altar;
for [it is] evident beforehand that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah, as to which tribe Moses spoke nothing about priests.
And it is yet more abundantly evident if according to the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth a different priest
who hath been made not according to law of fleshly commandment but according to power of indissoluble life.
For the witness is, Thou [art] priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
For there cometh a setting aside of foregoing commandment on account of its weakness and unprofitableness
(for the law perfected nothing), and an introduction of a better hope through which we draw near to God.
And by how much not apart from oath-swearing
(for they indeed apart from oath-swearing are become priests, but he with oath-swearing by him that saith unto him, The Lord swore and will not repent, Thou [art] priest forever [according to the order of Melchizedek]
by so much Jesus hath become surety of a better covenant.
And they indeed are become many more priests, because by death they are hindered from continuing;
but he because of his abiding forever hath the priesthood untransferable.
Whence also he is able to save completely those that approach God through him, as ever living to intercede for them.
For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and become higher than the heavens,
who hath no need day by day as the high priests, first to offer up sacrifices for his own sins, then [for] those of the people; for this he did once for all when he offered up himself.
For the law constituteth men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath-swearing that [was] after the law, a Son perfected forever.