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ForthisMelchisedec,king of Salem,priest of the most highGod,whometAbrahamreturningfrom the slaughter of the kings,andblessedhim;
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To whomalsoAbrahamgave a tenth partofall;firstbeing by interpretationKing of righteousness,and after thatalsoKing of Salem, which is, King of peace;
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Without father, without mother, without descent,[a]havingneitherbeginning of days,norend of life;but made like unto the Son of God;abideth a priestcontinually*.
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Nowconsider how great this man was, unto whomeven the patriarchAbrahamgave the tenthof the spoils.
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Andverily they that are of the sons of Levi,whoreceive the office of the priesthood,have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of theirbrethren,though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
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But he whose descent isnotcountedfromthem received tithes of Abraham,andblessed him that had the promises.
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Andwithoutallcontradiction the less is blessedof the better.
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Andhere*men that diereceivetithes;butthere he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessedthat he liveth.
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Andas I may so say*, Levialso,whoreceivethtithes, payed tithesinAbraham.
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For he wasyetin the loins of his father,whenMelchisedecmethim.
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If*thereforeperfectionwereby the Leviticalpriesthood,* (for underit the people received the law,) whatfurtherneed was there that anotherpriest should riseafter the order of Melchisedec,andnot be calledafter the order of Aaron?
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For the priesthood being changed, there is madeofnecessity a changealso of the law.
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For he ofwhom these things are spokenpertaineth to anothertribe,ofwhich no man gave attendance at the altar.
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For it is evidentthatourLordsprang out ofJuda;ofwhichtribeMosesspakenothingconcerningpriesthood.
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And it isyet far moreevident:for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there arisethanotherpriest,
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Who is made, notafter the law of a carnalcommandment,butafter the power of an endlesslife.
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For he testifieth*, Thou art a priestforeverafter the order of Melchisedec.
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For there isverily a disannulling of the commandment going beforefor the weaknessandunprofitablenessthereof.
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For the lawmadenothingperfect, but the bringing in of a betterhope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
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And inasmuch as*notwithout an oath he was made priest:
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(For those priestswere*madewithout[b] an oath;but this with an oathby him that saiduntohim, The Lordswareandwillnotrepent, Thou art a priestforeverafter the order of Melchisedec:)
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By so muchwasJesusmade a surety of a bettertestament.
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Andtheytrulywere*manypriests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason ofdeath:
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But this man, becausehecontinuethever*, hath an unchangeablepriesthood.
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Wherefore he is ablealso to save themto the uttermost that come unto Godbyhim, seeing he everlivethto make intercessionforthem.
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Forsuch an high priestbecameus, who is holy,harmless,undefiled,separatefromsinners,andmade higher than the heavens;
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Whoneedeth*notdaily*, as those high priests, to offer upsacrifice,firstfor his ownsins, and then for the people's:forthis he didonce, when he offered uphimself.
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For the lawmakethmen high priests which haveinfirmity;but the word of the oath,which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated[c]forevermore.