IḆRIM 7

1 For this Malkitseḏeq, Sovereign of Shalĕm, Kohĕn of the Most High Elohim, who met Aḇraham returning from the slaughter of the sovereigns and baraḵ him,

2 to whom also Aḇraham gave a tenth part of all, first of all translated as, ‘Sovereign of Righteousness,’ and then also Sovereign of Shalĕm, that is, ‘Sovereign of Peace,’

3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of ḥai, but having been made like the Bĕn of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, remains a Kohĕn for all time.

4 Now see how great this one was, to whom even the ancestor Aḇraham gave a tenth of the choicest booty.

5 And truly, those who are of the sons of Lĕwi, who receive the kehunnah, have a command to receive tithes from the people according to the Torah, that is, from their brothers, though they have come from the loins of Aḇraham,

6 however, the One whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Aḇraham, and baraḵ the One who held the promises.

7 And it is beyond all dispute that the lesser is baruḵ by the better.

8 And here it is men who die that receive tithes, but there it is someone of whom it is witnessed that He lives.

9 And one might say that through Aḇraham even Lĕwi, who received tithes, gave tithes,

10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Malkitseḏeq met him.

11 Truly, then, if perfection were through the Lĕwitical kehunnah – for under it the people were given the Torah – why was there still need for another Kohĕn to arise according to the order of Malkitseḏeq, and not be called according to the order of Aharon?

12 For the kehunnah being changed, of necessity there also takes place a change of law.

13 For He of whom this is said belongs to another tribe, from which no one had attended at the altar.

14 For it is perfectly clear that our Aḏon arose from Yahuḏah, a tribe about which Mosheh never spoke of concerning kehunnah,

15 and this is clearer still, if another Kohĕn arises in the likeness of Malkitseḏeq,

16 who has become, not according to the law of fleshly command, but according to the power of an endless ḥai,

17 for He witnesses, “You are a Kohĕn forever according to the order of Malkitseḏeq.”

18 For there is indeed a laying aside of the former command because of its weakness and unprofitableness,

19 for the Torah perfected naught, but the bringing in of a better expectation, through which we draw near to Elohim.

20 And it was not without an oath!

21 For they indeed became kohenim without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him, “𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 has sworn and shall not regret, ‘You are a Kohĕn forever according to the order of Malkitseḏeq.’ ”

22 By as much as this 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏 has become a guarantor of a better Covenant.

23 And indeed, those that became kohenim were many, because they were prevented by death from continuing,

24 but He, because He remains forever, has an unchangeable Kehunnah.

25 Therefore He is also able to save completely those who draw near to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 through Him, ever living to make intercession for them.

26 For it was fitting that we should have such a Kohĕn ha’Gadol – kind, innocent, undefiled, having been separated from sinners, and exalted above the shamayim,

27 who does not need, as those kohenim ha’gadolim, to offer up slaughter offerings day by day, first for His own sins and then for those of the people, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

28 For the Torah appoints as kohenim ha’gadolim, men who have weakness, but the word of the oath which came after the Torah – the Bĕn having been perfected forever.