7:1  For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

7:2  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 means king of peace.

7:3  Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

7:4  Now observe how great this man seemed to Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.

7:5  And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, namely, from their brethren, although these have descended from Abraham.

7:6  But the one whose genealogy has not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.

7:7  But without any dispute the greater blesses the lesser.

7:8  In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom we witnessed that he lives on.

7:9  And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes,

7:10  for he existed in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

7:11  Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need did we have for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not receive designation according to the order of Aaron?

7:12  For when the priesthood becomes changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.

7:13  For the one concerning whom these things people have spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.

7:14  For it has become evident that our Lord had descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

7:15  And this becomes clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,

7:16  who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.

7:17  For God attested of Him, "I APPOINT YOU AS A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK."

7:18  For, on the one hand, there appears a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

7:19  (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there will occur a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

7:20  And inasmuch as it did not occur without an oath

7:21  (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, "THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND, 'I APPOINT YOU A PRIEST FOREVER'");

7:22  so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

7:23  The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because death prevented them from continuing,

7:24  but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.

7:25  Therefore He has the ability to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

7:26  For it seemed fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;

7:27  who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

7:28  For the Law appoints men as high priests who have inherent weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.