3 without a father, without a mother, without a genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but being likened to the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

4 But see how great is he to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tithe of his best booty.

5 And since those who receive the priesthood of the sons of Levi have a commandment to take tithes according to the law, from the people, that is, from their brethren, although they also are descended from the loins of Abraham,

6 And he that was not of their generation, took the tithe of Abraham, and blessed him that hath the promise.

7 And it is quite certain that the lesser is blessed by the greater.

8 And here mortal men tithe, and there He who bears witness of himself that he lives.

9 And it may be said that Levi, who collects tithes, gave tithes through Abraham:

10 for he was still in his father's loins when Melchizedek met him.

11 If, then, perfection were to be attained through the Levitical priesthood, for it is the foundation of the law for the people, what need would there be for any priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not after the order of Aaron?

12 For with the change of the priesthood there is also a change of the law.

13 For he of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, of which no one served the altar.

14 For it is known that our Lord shone forth from Judah, from the tribe of which Moses said nothing concerning the priests.

15 And this is seen more plainly, if in the likeness of Melchizedek another priest arises,

16 Who became him, not according to the law of the commandment of the flesh, but according to the power of life that does not cease.