1
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2
to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace,"
3
without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
4
Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.
5
And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham;
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but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7
Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.
8
Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.
9
Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak,