melchizedek

¹For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham, as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him. ²And Abraham divided to him a tenth part of everything. And in translation his name is first, indeed, king of justice, and next also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. ³Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, he is thereby likened to the Son of God, who remains a priest continuously. ⁴Next, consider how great this man is, since the Patriarch Abraham even gave tithes to him from the principal things. ⁵And indeed, those who are from the sons of Levi, having received the priesthood, hold a commandment to take tithes from the people in accord with the law, that is, from their brothers, even though they also went forth from the loins of Abraham. ⁶But this man, whose lineage is not enumerated with them, received tithes from Abraham, and he blessed even the one who held the promises.

¹⁸Then in truth, Melchizedek, the king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine, for he was a priest of the Most High God; ¹⁹he blessed him, and he said: “Blessed be Abram by the Most High God, who created heaven and earth. ²⁰And blessed be the Most High God, through whose protection the enemies are in your hands.” And he gave him tithes from everything.

⁴The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

³Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, he is thereby likened to the Son of God, who remains a priest continuously.

¹⁰having been called by God to be the High Priest, according to the order of Melchizedek.

¹A Psalm of David. The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ²The Lord will send forth the scepter of your virtue from Zion. Rule in the midst of your enemies. ³It is with you from the beginning, in the day of your virtue, in the splendor of the saints. From conception, before the light-bearer, I begot you. ⁴The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” ⁵The Lord is at your right hand. He has broken kings in the day of his wrath. ⁶He will judge between the nations; he will fill up ruination. He will shatter heads in the land of the many.

¹¹Therefore, if consummation had occurred through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), then what further need would there be for another Priest to rise up according to the order of Melchizedek, one who was not called according to the order of Aaron?

²⁰to the place where the forerunner Jesus has entered on our behalf, so as to become the High Priest for eternity, according to the order of Melchizedek.

¹⁷Then the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after he returned from the slaughter at Chedorlaomer, and the kings who were with him at the valley of Shaveh, which is the valley of the king. ¹⁸Then in truth, Melchizedek, the king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine, for he was a priest of the Most High God; ¹⁹he blessed him, and he said: “Blessed be Abram by the Most High God, who created heaven and earth. ²⁰And blessed be the Most High God, through whose protection the enemies are in your hands.” And he gave him tithes from everything.

¹⁸Then in truth, Melchizedek, the king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine, for he was a priest of the Most High God;

¹For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham, as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him. ²And Abraham divided to him a tenth part of everything. And in translation his name is first, indeed, king of justice, and next also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. ³Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, he is thereby likened to the Son of God, who remains a priest continuously. ⁴Next, consider how great this man is, since the Patriarch Abraham even gave tithes to him from the principal things. ⁵And indeed, those who are from the sons of Levi, having received the priesthood, hold a commandment to take tithes from the people in accord with the law, that is, from their brothers, even though they also went forth from the loins of Abraham. ⁶But this man, whose lineage is not enumerated with them, received tithes from Abraham, and he blessed even the one who held the promises.

⁹And so it may be said that even Levi, who received tithes, was himself a tithe through Abraham. ¹⁰For he was still in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

¹⁷For he testifies: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

⁶And similarly, he says in another place: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

¹⁹This we have as an anchor of the soul, safe and sound, which advances even to the interior of the veil, ²⁰to the place where the forerunner Jesus has entered on our behalf, so as to become the High Priest for eternity, according to the order of Melchizedek.

¹For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham, as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him.

¹For every high priest, having been taken from among men, is appointed on behalf of men toward the things which pertain to God, so that he may offer gifts and sacrifices on behalf of sins; ²he is able to commiserate with those who are ignorant and who wander astray, because he himself is also encompassed by infirmity. ³And because of this, he also must make such offerings for sins even for himself, in the same manner as for the people. ⁴Neither does anyone take up this honor himself, but rather he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. ⁵Thus, even Christ did not glorify himself, so as to become High Priest, but instead, it was God who said to him: “You are my Son. Today I have begotten you.” ⁶And similarly, he says in another place: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

¹¹Therefore, if consummation had occurred through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), then what further need would there be for another Priest to rise up according to the order of Melchizedek, one who was not called according to the order of Aaron? ¹²For since the priesthood has been transferred, it is necessary that the law also be transferred.

¹⁵And yet it is far more evident that, according to the likeness of Melchizedek, there rises up another priest,

²And Abraham divided to him a tenth part of everything. And in translation his name is first, indeed, king of justice, and next also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.

⁵Thus, even Christ did not glorify himself, so as to become High Priest, but instead, it was God who said to him: “You are my Son. Today I have begotten you.”