Hebrews:7

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* For this Melchizedek , king of Salem , priest of the Most High God , who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him , * to whom also Abraham divided a tenth from all , first being interpreted "king of righteousness ,"and then also king of Salem , which is "king of peace ," * without father , without mother , without genealogy , having neither beginning of days nor end of life , but having been made like the Son of God , remains a priest continually . * But observe how great this [man was ], to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils . * And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi , who receive the priesthood , have a commandment to collect tithes from the people according to the law , that is , from their brothers , though they have come from the loins of Abraham ; * but the [one ] not tracing his descent from them has received tithes from Abraham , and he has blessed the [one ] having the promises . * Now without any contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better . * And here on the one hand mortal men receive tithes , but there on the other he [ receives them ], of whom [ ]it is witnessed that he lives . * Even Levi , the [one ] receiving tithes , has paid tithes through Abraham , so to speak , * for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him . * Therefore , if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law ), why is there yet a need [for ] another priest to rise , according to the order of Melchizedek , and not to be called according to the order of Aaron ? * For the priesthood being changed , of necessity there occurs a change of law also . * For He concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe , from which no one has officiated at the altar . * For it is evident that our Lord has risen out of Judah , regarding which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood . * And it is yet even more clearer , if according to the likeness of Melchizedek , there arises another priest * who has come , not according to the law of a fleshly commandment , but according to the power of an endless life . * For He testifies : "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek ." * For on the one hand an annulment comes about of the preceding commandment on account of its weakness and uselessness . * For the law made nothing perfect ; but there [ is ] the bringing in of a better hope , through which we draw near to God . * And inasmuch as [it was ] not without an oath , * for they have become priests without an oath , but He with an oath by Him that said to Him : "The LORD has sworn and will not relent , 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek ' ", * by so much more Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant . * Also there were many priests , because they were prevented by death from continuing . * But He , because He remains forever , has an unchangeable priesthood . * Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those coming to God through Him , since He always lives to make intercession for them . * For such a High Priest was fitting for us , who is holy , innocent , undefiled , having been separated from sinners , and has become higher than the heavens ; * who does not need daily , as those high priests , to offer up sacrifices beforehand , on behalf of His own sins and then for the people 's , for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself . * For the law appoints men as high priests who have weakness , but the word of the oath , which came after the law , [appoints ] a Son who has been perfected forever .

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