For this aMelchizedek
, king
of Salem
, priest
of the bMost
High
God
, who met
Abraham
as he was returning
from the slaughter
of the kings
and blessed
him,
to whom also
Abraham
apportioned
a tenth
part
of all
the spoils, was first
of all
, by the translation
of his name, king
of righteousness
, and then
also
king
of Salem
, which
is king
of peace
.
Without father
, without
mother
, awithout
genealogy
, having
neither
beginning
of days
nor
end
of life
, but made
like
bthe Son
of God
, he remains
a priest
perpetually
.
Now observe
how
great
this
man
was to whom
Abraham
, the apatriarch
, bgave
a tenth
of the choicest
spoils
.
And those indeed
of athe sons
of Levi
who receive
the priest's
office
have
commandment
1in the Law
to collect
2a tenth
from the people
, that is, from their brethren
, although
these 3are descended
from Abraham
.
But the one awhose genealogy is not traced
from them bcollected
1a tenth
from Abraham
and 2 bblessed
the one who chad
the promises
.
But without any
dispute
the lesser
is blessed
by the greater
.
In this case
mortal
men
receive
tithes
, but in that case
one receives them, aof whom it is witnessed
that he lives
on.
And, so to speak
, through
Abraham
even
Levi
, who received
tithes
, paid
tithes
,
for he was still in the loins
of his father
when
Melchizedek
met
him.
aNow if
perfection
was through
the Levitical
priesthood
(for on the basis
of it bthe people
received
the Law
), what
further
need
was there for another
priest
to arise
caccording
to the order
of Melchizedek
, and not be designated
according
to the order
of Aaron
?
For when the priesthood is changed
, of necessity
there takes
place
a change
of law
also
.
For athe one concerning whom
bthese
things
are spoken
belongs
to another
tribe
, from which
no
one
has officiated
at the altar
.
For it is evident that our Lord
1was adescended
from Judah
, a tribe
with reference
to which
Moses
spoke
nothing
concerning
priests
.
And this is clearer still
, if
another
priest
arises
according
to the likeness
of Melchizedek
,
who has become
such not on the basis
of a law
of 1 aphysical
requirement
, but according
to the power
of ban indestructible
life
.
For it is attested of Him, " aYOU ARE A PRIEST
FOREVER
ACCORDING
TO THE ORDER
OF MELCHIZEDEK
."
For, on the one hand
, there is a setting
aside
of a former
commandment
abecause
of its weakness
and uselessness
(for athe Law made
nothing
perfect
), and on the other
hand
there is a bringing
in of a better
bhope
, through
which
we cdraw
near
to God
.
And inasmuch as it was not without
an oath
(for they indeed became
priests
without
an oath
, but He with an oath
through
the One who said
to Him, " aTHE LORD
HAS SWORN
AND bWILL NOT CHANGE
HIS MIND
, `YOU ARE A PRIEST
cFOREVER
' ");
so much
the more
also
Jesus
has become
the aguarantee
of ba better
covenant
.
1The former priests, on the one
hand
, existed
in greater
numbers
because
they were prevented
by death
from continuing
,
but Jesus, on the other hand
, because
He continues
aforever
, holds
His priesthood
permanently
.
Therefore He is able
also
to asave
1forever
those
who bdraw
near
to God
through
Him, since He always
lives
to cmake
intercession
for them.
For it was fitting for us to have such
a ahigh
priest
, bholy
, cinnocent
, undefiled
, separated
from sinners
and dexalted
above the heavens
;
who does not need
daily
, like
those
high
priests
, to aoffer
up sacrifices
, bfirst
for His own
sins
and then
for the sins of the people
, because
this
He did
conce
for all
when He doffered
up Himself
.
For the Law appoints
men
as high
priests
awho are weak
, but the word
of the oath
, which came after
the Law
, appoints ba Son
, cmade
perfect
forever
.