Chapter 7

  For this Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who did meet Abraham turning back from the smiting of the kings, and did bless him,  

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  to whom also a tenth of all did Abraham divide, (first, indeed, being interpreted, 'King of righteousness,' and then also, King of Salem, which is, King of Peace,)  

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  without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, and being made like to the Son of God, doth remain a priest continually.  

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  And see how great this one [is], to whom also a tenth Abraham the patriarch did give out of the best of the spoils,  

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  and those, indeed, out of the sons of Levi receiving the priesthood, a command have to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, their brethren, even though they came forth out of the loins of Abraham;  

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  and he who was not reckoned by genealogy of them, received tithes from Abraham, and him having the promises he hath blessed,  

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  and apart from all controversy, the less by the better is blessed --  

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  and here, indeed, men who die do receive tithes, and there [he], who is testified to that he was living,  

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  and so to speak, through Abraham even Levi who is receiving tithes, hath paid tithes,  

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  for he was yet in the loins of the father when Melchisedek met him.  

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  If indeed, then, perfection were through the Levitical priesthood -- for the people under it had received law -- what further need, according to the order of Melchisedek, for another priest to arise, and not to be called according to the order of Aaron?  

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  for the priesthood being changed, of necessity also, of the law a change doth come,  

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  for he of whom these things are said in another tribe hath had part, of whom no one gave attendance at the altar,  

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  for [it is] evident that out of Judah hath arisen our Lord, in regard to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.  

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  And it is yet more abundantly most evident, if according to the similitude of Melchisedek there doth arise another priest,  

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  who came not according to the law of a fleshly command, but according to the power of an endless life,  

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  for He doth testify -- 'Thou [art] a priest -- to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;'  

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  for a disannulling indeed doth come of the command going before because of its weakness, and unprofitableness,  

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  (for nothing did the law perfect) and the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw nigh to God.  

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  And inasmuch as [it is] not apart from oath, (for those indeed apart from oath are become priests,  

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  and he with an oath through Him who is saying unto him, 'The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest -- to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;')  

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  by so much of a better covenant hath Jesus become surety,  

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  and those indeed are many who have become priests, because by death they are hindered from remaining;  

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  and he, because of his remaining -- to the age, hath the priesthood not transient,  

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  whence also he is able to save to the very end, those coming through him unto God -- ever living to make intercession for them.  

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  For such a chief priest did become us -- kind, harmless, undefiled, separate from the sinners, and become higher than the heavens,  

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  who hath no necessity daily, as the chief priests, first for his own sins to offer up sacrifice, then for those of the people; for this he did once, having offered up himself;  

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  for the law doth appoint men chief priests, having infirmity, but the word of the oath that [is] after the law [appointeth] the Son -- to the age having been perfected.  

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