¹⁷ So when God desired to show more convincingly to ^(A)the heirs of the promise ^(B)the unchangeable character of his purpose, ^(C)he guaranteed it with an oath, ¹⁸ so that by two unchangeable things, in which ^(D)it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope ^(E)set before us. ¹⁹ We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into ^(F)the inner place behind the curtain, ²⁰ where Jesus has gone ^(G)as a forerunner on our behalf, ^(H)having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

7 For this ^(I)Melchizedek, king of ^(J)Salem, priest of ^(K)the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 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. ³ He is without father or mother ^(L)or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

⁴ See how great this man was to whom Abraham ^(M)the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! ⁵ And ^(N)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,^[a] though these also are descended from Abraham. ⁶ But this man ^(O)who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed ^(P)him who had the promises. ⁷ It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. ⁸ In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one ^(Q)of whom it is testified that ^(R)he lives. 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.