²To whom also Abraham divided the tithes of all: who first indeed by interpretation is king of justice: and then also king of Salem, that is, king of peace:

³Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but likened unto the Son of God, continueth a priest for ever.

⁴Now consider how great this man is, to whom also Abraham the patriarch gave tithes out of the principal things.

⁵And indeed they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is to say, of their brethren: though they themselves also came out of the loins of Abraham.

⁶But he, whose pedigree is not numbered among them, received tithes of Abraham and blessed him that had the promises.

⁷And without all contradiction, that which is less is blessed by the better.

⁸And here indeed, men that die receive tithes: but there, he hath witness that he liveth.

⁹And (as it may be said) even Levi who received tithes paid tithes in Abraham:

¹⁰For he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchisedech met him.

¹¹If then perfection was by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchisedech: and not be called according to the order of Aaron?

¹²For the priesthood being translated, it is necessary that a translation also be made of the law,

¹³For he of whom these things are spoken is of another tribe, of which no one attended on the altar.

¹⁴For it is evident that our Lord sprung out of Juda: in which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

¹⁵And it is yet far more evident: if according to the similitude of Melchisedech there ariseth another priest,

¹⁶Who is made, not according to the law of a law of a carnal commandment, but according to the power of an indissoluble life.

¹⁷For he testifieth: Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.

¹⁸There is indeed a setting aside of the former commandment, because of the weakness and unprofitableness thereof:

¹⁹For the law brought nothing to perfection: but a bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh to God.

²⁰And inasmuch as it is not without an oath (for the others indeed were made priests without an oath:

²¹But this with an oath, by him that said unto him: The Lord hath sworn and he will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever).

²²By so much is Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

²³And the others indeed were made many priests, because by reason of death they were not suffered to continue:

²⁴But this, for that he continueth for ever, hath an everlasting priesthood:

²⁵Whereby he is able also to save for ever them that come to God by him; always living to make intercession for us.

²⁶For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens:

²⁷Who needeth not daily (as the other priests) to offer sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, in offering himself.

²⁸For the law maketh men priests, who have infirmity: but the word of the oath (which was since the law) the Son who is perfected for evermore.

Chapter 8

Now of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum: We have such an high priest who is set on the right hand of the throne of majesty in the heavens,

²A minister of the holies and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord hath pitched, and not man.

³For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is necessary that he also should have some thing to offer.

⁴If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest: seeing that there would be others to offer gifts according to the law.

⁵Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things. As it was answered to Moses, when he was to finish the tabernacle: See (saith he) that thou make all things according to the pattern which was shewn thee on the mount.

⁶But now he hath obtained a better ministry, by how much also he is a mediator of a better testament which is established on better promises.

⁷For if that former had been faultless, there should not indeed a place have been sought for a second.

⁸For, finding fault with them, he saith: Behold the days shall come, saith the Lord: and I will perfect, unto the house of Israel and unto the house of Juda, a new testament:

⁹Not according to the testament which I made to their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt: because they continued not in my testament: and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

¹⁰For this is the testament which I will make to the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will give my laws into their mind: and in their heart will I write them. And I will be their God: and they shall be my people.

¹¹And they shall not teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother, saying: Know the Lord. For all shall know me, from the least to the greatest of them.

¹²Because I will be merciful to their iniquities: and their sins I will remember no more.

¹³Now in saying a new, he hath made the former old. And that which decayeth and groweth old is near its end.

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