themselves, and in all their disputes the oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, 18 so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. 7 1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him. 2 And to him Abraham gave a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, 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, he remains a priest continually. 4 See how great he was! Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoils. 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man whose genealogy is not derived from them received a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without dispute the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8 In this case tithes are received by mortal men, but in that case by one of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. 11 Now if perfection could have been through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not one designated according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 This becomes even more evident if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of carnal requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared of him, "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek." 18 On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its