7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

7:2 to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is King of peace;

7:3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God), abideth a priest continually.

7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the chief spoils.

7:5 And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest`s office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham:

7:6 but he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises.

7:7 But without any dispute the less is blessed of the better.

7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there one, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

7:9 And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes;

7:10 for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

7:11 Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need [was there] that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned 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 said belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance at the altar.

7:14 For it is evident that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah; as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests.

7:15 And [what we say] is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest,

7:16 who hath been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life:

7:17 for it is witnessed [of him,] Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.

7:18 For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness

7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God.

7:20 And inasmuch as [it is] not without the taking of an oath

7:21 (for they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him that saith of him, The Lord sware and will not repent himself, Thou art a priest for ever);

7:22 by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.

7:23 And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing:

7:24 but he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable.

7:25 Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

7:26 For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

7:27 who needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the [sins] of the people: for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself.