^{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.