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1 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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2 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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3 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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4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
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5 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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6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
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7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
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8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
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9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
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10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
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11 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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12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
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13 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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14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
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15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
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16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
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17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
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18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
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19 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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20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
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21 (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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22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
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23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
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24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
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25 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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26 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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27 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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28 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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- 1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
- 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 is king of peace.
- 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.
- 4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.
- 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, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.
- 6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.
- 7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.
- 8 In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.
- 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes,
- 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
- 11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?
- 12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.
- 13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
- 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
- 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,
- 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.
- 17 For it is attested of Him, “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
- 18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
- 19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
- 20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath
- 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, 'YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER'”);
- 22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
- 23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,
- 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.
- 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
- 26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;
- 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.
- 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.
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