< Hebrews 7 >
1 For this Melchizedek, the king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, the one having met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him,
2 to whom Abraham divided the tenth from all first, being interpreted, King of righteousness, and then King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but being made like unto the Son of God, he abides a priest continually.
4 You see how great this man was, to whom the patriarch Abraham even gave the tenth part of the chief spoils.
5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi receiving the priesthood have a commandment to tithe the people according to the law, that is, their brethren, even though having come out from the loins of Abraham:
6 but he who did not derive his lineage from them has tithed Abraham, and blessed him having the promises.
7 For without contradiction the less is blessed by the better.
8 And here indeed men dying, receive tithes; however there, he is witnessed to that he lives.
9 And, so to speak a word, Levi, the one receiving tithes, has also been tithed through Abraham.
10 For he was still in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.
11 Then indeed if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood, for unto it the people have been tithed, what need is there still that another priest shall rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is a change of the law.
13 For he unto whom these things were spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one ministers at the altar:
14 for it is evident that our Lord sprang from Judah; in reference to which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
15 And it is still more abundantly evident, if after the similitude of Melchizedek another priest rises,
16 who was not made after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For it is testified, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (aiōn )
18 For there is a disannulling of the preceding commandment, on account of its weakness and inadequacy
19 for the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh unto God.
20 And in as much as it is without an oath, for the priests were made without an oath;
21 but He with an oath through the one saying to him, The Lord hath sworn, and will not regret it; thou art a priest forever; (aiōn )
22 insomuch that Jesus has also been made the mediator of a better covenant.
23 And indeed many have been made priests, because they were prohibited by death from continuing:
24 but he, because he abides forever, has an unchangeable priesthood: (aiōn )
25 wherefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those coming unto God through him, ever living to intercede for them.
26 For such a high priest was indeed appropriate unto us, holy, free from sin, undefiled, having been separated from the sinners, and being higher than the heavens;
27 who had not daily need, as the high priests, first to offer up sacrifices for their own sins, then those of the people: for he did this, having offered up himself once.
28 For the law institutes men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which is after the law, the Son, having been made perfect forever. (aiōn )
