A priming pump for fluid delivery arranged with a base defining a flow inlet, a flow outlet, and a control valve positioned therebetween. The priming pump includes a housing assembled to the base with an inlet flow valve positioned in an inlet valve compartment and an outlet flow valve positioned in an outlet valve compartment. The valve compartments are in communication with a plunger chamber including an axially movable plunger. A spring-biased control knob is assembled to the plunger and to the control valve for controlling its position between either a direct-flow orientation or a by-pass orientation. With the control valve in the by-pass orientation, upward movement of the control knob draws fluid into the inlet valve compartment and into the plunger chamber. The down stroke of the control knob pushes the fluid out of the plunger chamber.