Hebrews 7:1-10 For you see, this Melchizedek, a King of Salem, a Priest of the Most High God (or: from God Most High) – the One meeting with Abraham, who was returning from the cutting down (or: smiting) of the kings, and was speaking words of well-being to (or: blessing) him,

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ For you see, this Melchizedek, a King of Salem, a Priest of the Most High God (or: from God Most High) – the One meeting with Abraham, [who was] returning from the cutting down (or: smiting) of the kings, and was speaking words of well-being to (or: blessing) him, ² to whom also Abraham divided a tenth of all – being first, indeed, translated "King of the Way pointed out" (King of fairness and equity; King of Justice and Righteousness; King of Rightwised Relationships; also: = King of covenant living) and then also (or: afterwards) "King of Salem," which is "King of Peace and Harmony." ³ [Being] without father, without mother, without a genealogy, having neither a beginning of days nor an end of life, yet being made a likeness from (or: being portrayed or pictured like) the Son of God, he continuously remains a priest to the whole length (extended or stretched into the unbroken continuance) [of time]. ⁴ Now continuously be gazing as a spectator: How eminent and distinguished [is] this one! – to Whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth out of the topmost part of the heap [= the spoils of war]. ⁵ And later, on the one hand, those out of the sons of Levi, in taking the office of a priest, hold (or: possess) an implanted goal (impartation of the finished product and destiny within; inward directive), down from and in accord with the Law, to be receiving tithes from the people, that is, their brothers, even those having come out of the loins of Abraham. ⁶ Yet on the other hand, he (or: the one the man), being not of their genealogy, caused Abraham to pay tithes and has spoken goodness and well-being to (or: blessed) the one holding (or: possessing) the Promise. ⁷ Now without all contradiction (or: apart from every dispute), the inferior is being blessed by the superior (stronger and better; = more important). ⁸ And so here (in this place), in the one case dying-away (rotting; withering) men are receiving (or: taking) tithes; and yet there in the other case, it is being witnessed and attested that he continuously lives (or: He constantly lives and is alive)! ⁹ And thus even Levi, receiving tithes, has – if I may say it this way (or: = as it could be said) – been tithed (or: = regarded as part of that tithe) through Abraham. ¹⁰ For you see, he was still in the loins of the Father (or: forefather) when Melchizedek met with him.