The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

7 For this ^(A)Melchizedek, king of ^(B)Salem, priest of ^(C)the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ² and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. ³ He is without father or mother ^(D)or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

⁴ See how great this man was to whom Abraham ^(E)the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! ⁵ And ^(F)those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers,^[a] though these also are descended from Abraham. ⁶ But this man ^(G)who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed ^(H)him who had the promises. ⁷ It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.

¹⁵ This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, ¹⁶ who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is witnessed of him,

²³ The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, ²⁴ but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues ^(A)forever. ²⁵ Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost^{[a] (B)}those who draw near to God ^(C)through him, since he always lives ^(D)to make intercession for them.

²⁶ For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, ^(E)holy, innocent, unstained, ^(F)separated from sinners, and ^(G)exalted above the heavens. ²⁷ He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, ^(H)first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this ^(I)once for all when he offered up himself. ²⁸ For the law appoints men ^(J)in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made ^(K)perfect forever.