Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Now Observe How Great This Melchizedek Is

7 For this Melchizedek^[a], king of Salem, priest of the Most-High God, remains^[b] a priest perpetually^[c]— the one having met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and having blessed him; ² to whom also Abraham divided a tenth from everything; who is first ([his name] being translated), king of righteousness; and then also king of Salem, which is^[d] king of peace; ³ fatherless, motherless, genealogy-less, having^[e] neither a beginning of days nor an end of life, but having been made-like^[f] the Son of God. ⁴ Now observe how great this one is to whom indeed Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth from the choicest-spoils:

He Is Greater Than Abraham

⁵ Indeed, the ones from the sons of Levi receiving the priestly-office have a commandment to be collecting-a-tenth-from the people according to the Law (that is, from their brothers, even though their brothers have come-out of the loins of Abraham)— ⁶ yet the one not tracing-his-genealogy from them has collected-a-tenth from Abraham, and has blessed the one having the promises! ⁷ And apart from all dispute, the lesser one is blessed by the better one.

He Is Living As a Priest Perpetually

⁸ And here, dying men^[g] receive the tenths— yet there, it is being attested^[h] that he is living!

He Is Greater Than Levi And His Priesthood

⁹ And so to speak, through Abraham even Levi^[i], the one receiving the tenths, has paid-a-tenth. ¹⁰ For he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him!