Chapter 7

  For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;  

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  To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;  

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  Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.  

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  Now consider how great this man [was], unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.  

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  And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:  

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  But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.  

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  And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.  

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  And here men that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.  

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  And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.  

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  For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.  

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  If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need [was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?  

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  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.  

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  For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.  

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  For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.  

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  And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,  

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  Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.  

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  For he testifieth, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.  

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  For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.  

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  For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.  

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  And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest]:  

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  (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)  

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  By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.  

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  And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:  

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  But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.  

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  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.  

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  For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;  

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  Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.  

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  For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.  

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