< Hebrews 7 >
1 For this Malki-Zedeq, king of Shalim, priest of God Most High, who met Avraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2 to whom also Avraham divided "a tenth part of everything" (being first, by interpretation, king of righteousness, and then also king of Shalim, which is king of peace;
3 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 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Avraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the most valuable plunder.
5 They indeed of the sons of Lewi 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 body of Avraham,
6 but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Avraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.
7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8 Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives.
9 We can say that through Avraham even Lewi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,
10 for he was yet in the body of his father when Malki-Zedeq met him.
11 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 Malki-Zedeq, and not be called after the order of Ahrun?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law.
13 For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Yehudah, about which tribe Mushe spoke nothing concerning priests.
15 This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Malki-Zedeq there arises another priest,
16 who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life:
17 for it is testified, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Malki-Zedeq." (aiōn )
18 For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in 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 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.'" (aiōn )
22 Accordingly Yeshua has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.
24 But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable. (aiōn )
25 Therefore he is also able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.
26 For such a high priest was indeed fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 who does not need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself.
28 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. (aiōn )
