GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New International Version NIV
5 Moses' Teachings say that members of the tribe of Levi who become priests must receive a tenth of everything from the people. The priests collect it from their own people, Abraham's descendants.
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Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham.
6 Although Melchizedek was not from the tribe of Levi, he received a tenth of everything from Abraham. Then Melchizedek blessed Abraham, who had God's promises.
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This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7 No one can deny that the more important person blesses the less important person.
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And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8 Priests receive a tenth of everything, but they die. Melchizedek received a tenth of everything, but we are told that he lives.
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In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.
9 We could even say that when Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything, Levi was giving a tenth of everything. Levi gave, although later his descendants would receive a tenth of everything.
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One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham,
10 Even though Levi had not yet been born, he was in the body of Abraham when Melchizedek met him.
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because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
11 The people established the Levitical priesthood based on instructions they received. If the work of the Levitical priests had been perfect, we wouldn't need to speak about another kind of priest. However, we speak about another kind of priest, a priest like Melchizedek, not a Levitical priest like Aaron.
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If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?
12 When a different kind of priesthood is established, the regulations for those priests are different.
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For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also.
13 The priest whom we are talking about was a member of a different tribe. No one from that tribe ever served as a priest at the altar.
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He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.
14 Everyone knows that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah. Moses never said anything about priests coming from that tribe.
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For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
15 The regulations were different. This became clear when a different priest who is like Melchizedek appeared.
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And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,
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