[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,
[7:2] and to him Abraham apportioned 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.
[7:3] He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
[7:4] See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!
[7:5] And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.
[7:6] But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
[7:7] It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
[7:8] In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.
[7:9] One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
[7:10] for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.