Hebrews 7

¹For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham, as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him.

²And Abraham divided to him a tenth part of everything. And in translation his name is first, indeed, king of justice, and next also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.

³Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, he is thereby likened to the Son of God, who remains a priest continuously.

⁴Next, consider how great this man is, since the Patriarch Abraham even gave tithes to him from the principal things.

⁵And indeed, those who are from the sons of Levi, having received the priesthood, hold a commandment to take tithes from the people in accord with the law, that is, from their brothers, even though they also went forth from the loins of Abraham.

⁶But this man, whose lineage is not enumerated with them, received tithes from Abraham, and he blessed even the one who held the promises.

⁷Yet this is without any contradiction, for what is less should be blessed by what is better.

⁸And certainly, here, men who receive tithes still die; but there, he bears witness that he lives.

⁹And so it may be said that even Levi, who received tithes, was himself a tithe through Abraham.

¹⁰For he was still in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

¹¹Therefore, if consummation had occurred through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), then what further need would there be for another Priest to rise up according to the order of Melchizedek, one who was not called according to the order of Aaron?

¹²For since the priesthood has been transferred, it is necessary that the law also be transferred.

¹³For he about whom these things have been spoken is from another tribe, in which no one attends before the altar.

¹⁴For it is evident that our Lord arose out of Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning priests.

¹⁵And yet it is far more evident that, according to the likeness of Melchizedek, there rises up another priest,

¹⁶who was made, not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the virtue of an indissoluble life.

¹⁷For he testifies: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

¹⁸Certainly, there is a setting aside of the former commandment, because of its weakness and lack of usefulness.

¹⁹For the law led no one to perfection, yet truly it introduced a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

²⁰Moreover, it is not without an oath. For certainly, the others were made priests without an oath.

²¹But this man was made a priest with an oath, by the One who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and he will not repent. You are a priest forever.”

²²By so much, Jesus has been made the sponsor of a better testament.

²³And certainly, so many of the others became priests because, due to death, they were prohibited from continuing.

²⁴But this man, because he continues forever, has an everlasting priesthood.

²⁵And for this reason, he is able, continuously, to save those who approach God through him, since he is ever alive to make intercession on our behalf.

²⁶For it was fitting that we should have such a High Priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted higher than the heavens.

²⁷And he has no need, daily, in the manner of other priests, to offer sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people. For he has done this once, by offering himself.

²⁸For the law appoints men as priests, though they have infirmities. But, by the word of the oath that is after the law, the Son has been perfected for eternity.

Hebrews 7

¹For this Melchisedech was king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him:

²To whom also Abraham divided the tithes of all: who first indeed by interpretation is king of justice: and then also king of Salem, that is, king of peace:

³Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but likened unto the Son of God, continueth a priest for ever.

⁴Now consider how great this man is, to whom also Abraham the patriarch gave tithes out of the principal things.

⁵And indeed they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is to say, of their brethren: though they themselves also came out of the loins of Abraham.

⁶But he, whose pedigree is not numbered among them, received tithes of Abraham and blessed him that had the promises.

⁷And without all contradiction, that which is less is blessed by the better.

⁸And here indeed, men that die receive tithes: but there, he hath witness that he liveth.

⁹And (as it may be said) even Levi who received tithes paid tithes in Abraham:

¹⁰For he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchisedech met him.

¹¹If then perfection was by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchisedech: and not be called according to the order of Aaron?

¹²For the priesthood being translated, it is necessary that a translation also be made of the law,

¹³For he of whom these things are spoken is of another tribe, of which no one attended on the altar.

¹⁴For it is evident that our Lord sprung out of Juda: in which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

¹⁵And it is yet far more evident: if according to the similitude of Melchisedech there ariseth another priest,

¹⁶Who is made, not according to the law of a law of a carnal commandment, but according to the power of an indissoluble life.

¹⁷For he testifieth: Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.

¹⁸There is indeed a setting aside of the former commandment, because of the weakness and unprofitableness thereof:

¹⁹For the law brought nothing to perfection: but a bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh to God.

²⁰And inasmuch as it is not without an oath (for the others indeed were made priests without an oath:

²¹But this with an oath, by him that said unto him: The Lord hath sworn and he will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever).

²²By so much is Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

²³And the others indeed were made many priests, because by reason of death they were not suffered to continue:

²⁴But this, for that he continueth for ever, hath an everlasting priesthood:

²⁵Whereby he is able also to save for ever them that come to God by him; always living to make intercession for us.

²⁶For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens:

²⁷Who needeth not daily (as the other priests) to offer sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, in offering himself.

²⁸For the law maketh men priests, who have infirmity: but the word of the oath (which was since the law) the Son who is perfected for evermore.