^{1 Ref} For this Melchizedek, the king of Salem, a priest of the Most High God, who gave Abraham his blessing, meeting him when he came back after putting the kings to death,

^{2 Ref} And to whom Abraham gave a tenth part of everything which he had, being first named King of righteousness, and then in addition, King of Salem, that is to say, King of peace;

^{3 Ref} Being without father or mother, or family, having no birth or end to his life, being made like the Son of God, is a priest for ever.

^{4 Ref} Now see how great this man was, to whom our father Abraham gave a tenth part of what he had got in the fight.

^{5 Ref} And it is true that by the law, those of the sons of Levi who have the position of priests may take a tenth part of the people's goods; that is to say, they take it from their brothers though these are the sons of Abraham.

^{6 Ref} But this man, who was not of their family, took the tenth from Abraham, and gave a blessing to him to whom God had given his undertaking.

^{7 Ref} But there is no doubt that the less gets his blessing from the greater.

^{8 Ref} Now at the present time, men over whom death has power take the tenth; but then it was taken by one of whom it is witnessed that he is living.

^{9 Ref} And we may say that in Abraham, even Levi, who has a right to take the tenth part, gave it;

^{10 Ref} Because he was still in his father's body when Melchizedek came to him.

^{11 Ref} Now if it was possible for things to be made complete through the priests of the house of Levi (for the law was given to the people in connection with them), what need was there for another priest who was of the order of Melchizedek and not of the order of Aaron?

^{12 Ref} Because if the priests are changed, it is necessary to make a change in the law.

^{13 Ref} For he of whom these things are said comes of another tribe, of which no man has ever made offerings at the altar.

^{14 Ref} Because it is clear that our Lord comes out of Judah, and Moses said nothing about priests from that tribe.

^{15 Ref} And this is even more clear if a second priest has come up who is like Melchizedek,

^{16 Ref} That is to say, not made by a law based on the flesh, but by the power of a life without end:

^{17 Ref} For it has been witnessed of him, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

^{18 Ref} So the law which went before is put on one side, because it was feeble and without profit.

^{19 Ref} (Because the law made nothing complete), and in its place there is a better hope, through which we come near to God.

²⁰ And as this is not without the taking of an oath

^{21 Ref} (For those were made priests without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by him who says of him, The Lord gave his oath, which he will not take back, that you are a priest for ever);

^{22 Ref} By so much is it a better agreement which we have through Jesus.

^{23 Ref} And it is true that there have been a great number of those priests, because death does not let them go on for ever;

^{24 Ref} But this priest, because his life goes on for ever, is unchanging.

^{25 Ref} So that he is fully able to be the saviour of all who come to God through him, because he is ever living to make prayer to God for them.

^{26 Ref} It was right for us to have such a high priest, one who is holy and without evil, doing no wrong, having no part with sinners, and made higher than the heavens:

^{27 Ref} Who has no need to make offerings for sins every day, like those high priests, first for himself, and then for the people; because he did this once and for ever when he made an offering of himself.

^{28 Ref} The law makes high priests of men who are feeble; but the word of the oath, which was made after the law, gives that position to a Son, in whom all good is for ever complete.

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

^{2 Ref} 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;

^{3 Ref} without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains a priest continually.

^{4 Ref} Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best spoils.

^{5 Ref} They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham,

^{6 Ref} but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has taken tithes of Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.

^{7 Ref} But without any dispute the less is blessed by the better.

^{8 Ref} Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives.

^{9 Ref} So to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,

^{10 Ref} for he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

^{11 Ref} Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

^{12 Ref} For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law.

^{13 Ref} For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.

^{14 Ref} For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

^{15 Ref} This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,

^{16 Ref} who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life:

^{17 Ref} for it is testified, "You are a priest forever, According to the order of Melchizedek."

^{18 Ref} For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

^{19 Ref} (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

²⁰ Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath

^{21 Ref} (for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, "The Lord swore and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever, According to the order of Melchizedek'".

^{22 Ref} By so much has Jesus become the collateral of a better covenant.

^{23 Ref} Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.

^{24 Ref} But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable.

^{25 Ref} Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.

^{26 Ref} For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

^{27 Ref} who doesn't need, like those high priests, to daily 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.

^{28 Ref} For the law appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath which came after the law appoints a Son forever who has been perfected.

^{1 Ref} For this Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who did meet Abraham turning back from the smiting of the kings, and did bless him,

^{2 Ref} to whom also a tenth of all did Abraham divide, (first, indeed, being interpreted, `King of righteousness,' and then also, King of Salem, which is, King of Peace,)

^{3 Ref} without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, and being made like to the Son of God, doth remain a priest continually.

^{4 Ref} And see how great this one `is', to whom also a tenth Abraham the patriarch did give out of the best of the spoils,

^{5 Ref} and those, indeed, out of the sons of Levi receiving the priesthood, a command have to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, their brethren, even though they came forth out of the loins of Abraham;

^{6 Ref} and he who was not reckoned by genealogy of them, received tithes from Abraham, and him having the promises he hath blessed,

^{7 Ref} and apart from all controversy, the less by the better is blessed --

^{8 Ref} and here, indeed, men who die do receive tithes, and there `he', who is testified to that he was living,

^{9 Ref} and so to speak, through Abraham even Levi who is receiving tithes, hath paid tithes,

^{10 Ref} for he was yet in the loins of the father when Melchisedek met him.

^{11 Ref} If indeed, then, perfection were through the Levitical priesthood -- for the people under it had received law -- what further need, according to the order of Melchisedek, for another priest to arise, and not to be called according to the order of Aaron?

^{12 Ref} for the priesthood being changed, of necessity also, of the law a change doth come,

^{13 Ref} for he of whom these things are said in another tribe hath had part, of whom no one gave attendance at the altar,

^{14 Ref} for `it is' evident that out of Judah hath arisen our Lord, in regard to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

^{15 Ref} And it is yet more abundantly most evident, if according to the similitude of Melchisedek there doth arise another priest,

^{16 Ref} who came not according to the law of a fleshly command, but according to the power of an endless life,

^{17 Ref} for He doth testify -- `Thou `art' a priest -- to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;'

^{18 Ref} for a disannulling indeed doth come of the command going before because of its weakness, and unprofitableness,

^{19 Ref} (for nothing did the law perfect) and the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw nigh to God.

²⁰ And inasmuch as `it is' not apart from oath, (for those indeed apart from oath are become priests,

^{21 Ref} and he with an oath through Him who is saying unto him, `The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou `art' a priest -- to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;')

^{22 Ref} by so much of a better covenant hath Jesus become surety,

^{23 Ref} and those indeed are many who have become priests, because by death they are hindered from remaining;

^{24 Ref} and he, because of his remaining -- to the age, hath the priesthood not transient,

^{25 Ref} whence also he is able to save to the very end, those coming through him unto God -- ever living to make intercession for them.

^{26 Ref} For such a chief priest did become us -- kind, harmless, undefiled, separate from the sinners, and become higher than the heavens,

^{27 Ref} who hath no necessity daily, as the chief priests, first for his own sins to offer up sacrifice, then for those of the people; for this he did once, having offered up himself;

^{28 Ref} for the law doth appoint men chief priests, having infirmity, but the word of the oath that `is' after the law `appointeth' the Son -- to the age having been perfected.