1  For this Melchisedec, King of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from smiting the kings, and blessed him; 2  to whom Abraham gave also the tenth portion of all; first being interpreted King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is King of peace; 3  without father, without mother, without genealogy; having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but assimilated to the Son of God, abides a priest continually. 4  Now consider how great this personage was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth out of the spoils. 5  And they indeed from among the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is from their brethren, though these are come out of the loins of Abraham: 6  but he who has no genealogy from them has tithed Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises. 7  But beyond all gainsaying, the inferior is blessed by the better. 8  And here dying men receive tithes; but there one of whom the witness is that he lives; 9  and, so to speak, through Abraham, Levi also, who received tithes, has been made to pay tithes. 10  For he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchisedec met him.