¹FOR this Melchisedec was king of Salem, the priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ²And to whom Abraham also set aside 1/10th part from the choice things he had with him. His name is interpreted king of righteousness, and again, king of Salem, which means king of peace. ³Neither his father nor his mother is recorded in the genealogies; and neither the beginning of his days nor the end of his life; but, like the Son of God, his priesthood stays forever.

⁴Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave tithes and paid head tax. ⁵For those sons of Levi who received the office of the priesthood were authorized by law to take tithes from the people, even from their own brothers who had also come out of the loins of Abraham. ⁶But this man who is not recorded in their genealogies took tithes even from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises. ⁷Beyond dispute, he who was less was blessed by him who was greater than himself. ⁸And here mortal men receive tithes; but there he, of whom the scripture testifies that he lives, receives them. ⁹Speaking as a man, through Abraham, even Levi, who received tithes, also gave tithes. ¹⁰For he was yet in the loins of his forefather Abraham when Melchisedec met him. ¹¹If therefore perfection had been reached by the Levitical priesthood by which the law was enacted for the people, what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec? Otherwise, the scriptures would have said that he would be after the order of Aaron. ¹²Since there was a change in the priesthood, so there was also a change in the law. ¹³For he concerning whom these things are spoken was born of another tribe, from which no man ever ministered at the altar. ¹⁴For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah, of which tribe Moses said nothing concerning the priesthood. ¹⁵Yet it is far more evident because he said that another priest would rise after the order of Melchisedec, ¹⁶One who was not appointed after the law of carnal commandments, but after the power of life which stays forever. ¹⁷For he testified concerning him, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. ¹⁸For the change which took place in the former law was made on account of its weaknesses and because it had become useless. ¹⁹For the law made nothing perfect, but there has come in its place a better hope, by which we draw near to God. ²⁰And he confirmed it for us by oath. ²¹For they were made priests without oaths; but this one was made a priest with an oath, as it was said concerning him by David, The Lord has sworn, and will not lie, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. ²²All these things make a better contract because Jesus is its surety. ²³And these priests were many, because they were mortal and they were not permitted to continue because of death; ²⁴But this one, because he is immortal, has a priesthood which remains forever. ²⁵Therefore, he is able to save forever those who come to God by him because he lives forever to make intercession for them. ²⁶For this is the kind of high priest proper for us: pure, without evil, and undefiled, far away from sin, and made higher than the heavens; ²⁷And who does not need daily, as do those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for their own sins and then for the people's; for this he did once when he offered up himself. ²⁸For the law appoints imperfect men priests; but the word of the oath which came after the law appoints the Son who is perfect forever.