(KJV) Hebrews 7¹

⥃Melchizedek and Abraham ^{[ Genesis 14:17–24 ]}

[1] For this² Melchisedec, king of Salem³, priest of the most⁴ high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter⁵ of the kings, and blessed him; [2] To whom also Abraham gave a tenth⁶ part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness⁷, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; [3] Without father⁸, without mother, without descent⁹, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest¹⁰ continually. [4] Now consider how great this man [was], unto whom even the patriarch¹¹ Abraham¹² gave¹³ the tenth of the spoils. [5] And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who¹⁴ receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take¹⁵ tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come¹⁶ out of the loins of Abraham: [6] But he whose descent¹⁷ is not counted from them received¹⁸ tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had¹⁹ the promises. [7] And without²⁰ all contradiction the less²¹ is blessed of the better. [8] And here men²² that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is witnessed that he liveth²³. [9] And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed²⁴ tithes in Abraham. [10] For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.²⁵

⥃A Superior Priesthood

[11] If therefore perfection²⁶ were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what²⁷ further need [was there] that another²⁸ priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? [12] For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change²⁹ also of the law. [13] For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which³⁰ no man gave attendance at the altar. [14] For [it is] evident that our Lord³¹ sprang³² out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. [15] And it is yet far more evident: for that after³³ the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, [16] Who is made, not after the law³⁴ of a carnal commandment, but after the power³⁵ of an endless life. [17] For he testifieth, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.³⁶ [18] For there is verily a disannulling³⁷ of the commandment going before for the weakness³⁸ and unprofitableness thereof. [19] For the law³⁹ made⁴⁰ nothing perfect, but the bringing in⁴¹ of a better⁴² hope [did]; by the which we⁴³ draw nigh unto God. [20] And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest]: [21] (For those priests were made without an oath⁴⁴; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord⁴⁵ sware⁴⁶ and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) [22] By so much was Jesus made a surety⁴⁷ of a⁴⁸ better testament⁴⁹. [23] And they truly were⁵⁰ many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: [24] But⁵¹ this [man], because he continueth⁵² ever, hath⁵³ an unchangeable priesthood⁵⁴. [25] Wherefore he is⁵⁵ able also to save them to the uttermost⁵⁶ that come⁵⁷ unto God by him⁵⁸, seeing he ever⁵⁹ liveth to make⁶⁰ intercession for them. [26] For such⁶¹ an high priest became⁶² us, [who is] holy⁶³, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made⁶⁴ higher than the heavens; [27] Who needeth not daily⁶⁵, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first⁶⁶ for his own sins, and then⁶⁷ for the people’s: for this⁶⁸ he did once, when he offered up himself. [28] For the law maketh⁶⁹ men high priests which have infirmity; but the word⁷⁰ of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the⁷¹ Son, who⁷² is consecrated⁷³ for evermore.