1. For this Melchizedek —King of Salem, priest of the Most High God,who met Abraham and blessed himas he returned from defeating the kings,
2. and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything;first, his name means king of righteousness,then also, king of Salem,meaning king of peace;
3. without father, mother, or genealogy,having neither beginning of days nor end of life,but resembling the Son of God —remains a priest forever.
4. Now consider how great this man was — even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the plunder to him!
5. The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the people — that is, from their brothers — though they have also descended from Abraham.
6. But one without this lineage collected tenths from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.
7. Without a doubt, the inferior is blessed by the superior.
8. In the one case, men who will die receive tenths, but in the other case, Scripture testifies that he lives.
9. And in a sense Levi himself, who receives tenths, has paid tenths through Abraham,
10. for he was still within his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
11. If then, perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law ), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?
12. For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well.
13. For the One these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar.