17. For it is declared:‘You are a priest for ever,in the order of Melchizedek.’
18. The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless
19. (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath,
21. but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:‘The Lord has swornand will not change his mind:“You are a priest for ever.” ’
22. Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
23. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office;