1FOR, this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham when he was returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2and to whom Abraham gave a tenth of all , 3without father, without mother, without ancestors, without either birthday or end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest permanently. 4But see how great this man was, since Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of his choicest spoils. 5And even those of the sons of Levi who attain the priesthood have command according to the Law to take a tenth from the people, their own brethren, although these have sprung from the loins of Abraham. 6But he who had no genealogy from these took a tenth from Abraham and pronounced a blessing on him who had the promises. 7Without dispute the less is blessed by the greater. 8And here mortal men receive tenths, but there one of whom the witness is that he is living. 9And, to put it frankly, Levi, who receives the tenths, was made to pay a tenth through Abraham. 10For he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met Abraham. 11If, then, perfection had been through the Levitical priesthood, \'97 for on the basis of that the people received the Law \'97 what need was there for another kind of priest to arise and not be called of the order of Aaron? 12For when the priesthood has been changed there comes of necessity also a change of law. 13For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has ever had anything to do with the altar. 14For it is plain that our Lord has arisen from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15And this is yet more abundantly evident if after the order of Melchizedek there arises a priest of a different kind 16who has become such, not according to the law of a commandment made for the flesh, but according to the power of unending life. 17For it is affirmed of him, "Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." 18There is a setting aside of the earlier commandment because of its weakness and uselessness \'97 19for the Law brought nothing to perfection \'97 and there is the bringing in of a better hope through which we draw near to God. 20And just as it was not without an oath \'97 21for those men have become priests without an oath, but he with an oath from him who said to him, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: thou art a priest forever" \'97 22by so much better is the covenant of which Jesus has become surety. 23And many of them became priests because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24but he, because he continues forever, has an unending priesthood. 25And so he is able to save perfectly those who come to God through him, since he is forever living to intercede for them. 26For such was the High Priest that we needed, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. 27He has not the daily need, like the other priests, first to offer sacrifices for his own sins and then for those of the people. This latter he did once for all when he offered himself. 28For the Law makes high priests of men who have infirmities, but the word of the oath, which comes after the Law, makes High Priest of a Son who is perfected forever.