English Standard Version ESV
New International Version NIV
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,
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This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat 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.
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and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”
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.
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Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!
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Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!
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.
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Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham.
6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
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This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
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And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater.
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.
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In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.
9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
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One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham,
10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
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because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
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