1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem,
priest of God Most High, who met Abraham
returning from the slaughter of the
kings and blessed him,

2 to whom also Abraham divided a tenth
part of all (being first, by interpretation,
“king of righteousness”, and then also
“king of Salem”, which means “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), remains a
priest continually.

4 Now consider how great this man was,
to whomeven Abrahamthe patriarchgave
a tenth out of the best plunder.

5 They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive
the priest’s office have a commandmentto
take tithes from the people according to
the law, that is, of their brothers,
though these have come out of the
body of Abraham,

6 but he whose genealogy is not counted
from them has accepted tithes from
Abraham, and has blessed him who has the
promises.

7 But without any dispute the lesser is
blessed by the greater.

8 Here people who die receive tithes, but
there one receives tithes of whom it is
testified that he lives.

9 We can say thatthrough Abraham even
Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,

10 for he was yet in the body of his father
when Melchizedek met him.

11 Now if perfection was through the
Levitical priesthood (for under it the
people have received the law), what further
need was there for another priest to arise
after the order of Melchizedek, and not be
called after the order of Aaron?

12 For the priesthood being changed,
there is of necessity a change made also in
the law.

13 For he of whom these things are said
belongs to another tribe, from which no
one has officiated at the altar.

14 For it is evident that our Lord has
sprung out of Judah, about which tribe
Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.