The actual, original, first printing of the 1611 King James Version (‘HE’ Bible) — Hebrews Chapter 7.

CHAP. VII.

1 Christ Iesus is a Priest after the order of Melchisedec, 11 And so, farre more excellent then the Priests of Aarons order.

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¹ For this Melchisedec king of Salem, Priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the Kings, and blessed him:

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² To whom also Abraham gaue a tenth part of all: first being by interpretation king of righteousnesse, and after that also king of Salem, which is, king of peace.

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³ Without father, without mother, without descent, hauing neither beginning of dayes nor end of life: but made like vnto the Sonne of God, abideth a Priest continually.³

⁴ Now consider how great this man was, vnto whō euen the patriarch Abraham gaue the tenth of the spoiles.

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⁵ And verily they that are of the sonnes of Leui, who receiue the office of the Priesthood, haue a commandement to take Tithes of the people according to the Law, that is of their brethren, though they come out of the loines of Abraham:

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⁶ But he whose descent is not counted from them, receiued tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.⁶

⁷ And without all contradiction, the lesse is blessed of the better.

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⁸ And here men that die receiue tithes: but there hee receiueth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liueth.

⁹ And as I may so say, Leui also who receiueth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

¹⁰ For hee was yet in the loynes of his Father when Melchisedec met him.

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¹¹ If therefore perfection were by the Leuiticall Priesthood (for vnder it the people receiued the Law) what further neede was there, that another Priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not bee called after the order of Aaron?

¹² For the Priesthood being chaunged, there is made of necessitie a change also of the Law.

¹³ For hee of whom these things are spoken, pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gaue attendance at the Altar.

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¹⁴ For it is euident that our Lorde sprang out of Iuda, of which tribe Moses spake nothing cōcerning Priesthood.

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¹⁵ And it is yet farre more euident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another Priest,

¹⁶ Who is made not after the Law of a carnall commandement, but after the power of an endles life.

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¹⁷ For hee testifieth; Thou art a Priest for euer, after the order of Melchisedec.

¹⁸ For there is verily a disanulling of the commandement going before, for the weakenesse and vnprofitablenesse thereof.

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¹⁹ For the Law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did: by the which wee draw nigh vnto God.¹⁹

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²⁰ And in as much as not without an othe he was made Priest,

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²¹ (For those Priests were made without an oath: but this with an oath, by him þ^t said vnto him, The Lord sware and wil not repent, thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedec)²¹

²² By so much was Iesus made a suertie of a better Testament.

²³ And they truely were many Priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death.

²⁴ But this man because hee continueth euer, hath an vnchangeable Priesthood.²⁴

²⁵ Wherefore he is able also to saue them to the vttermost, that come vnto God by him, seeing hee euer liueth to make intercession for them.²⁵

²⁶ For such an high Priest became vs, who is holy, harmelesse, vndefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher then the heauens.

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²⁷ Who needeth not daily, as those high Priests, to offer vp sacrifice, first for his owne sins and then for the peoples: for this he did once, when he offered vp himselfe.

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²⁸ For the Law maketh men high Priests which haue infirmitie, but the word of the othe which was since the Law, maketh the Sonne, who is consecrated for euermore.²⁸

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