The oracle of Yahweh to my master:
"Sit enthroned at my right hand,
Until I make your enemies a stool for your feet."[1]
Yahweh will send out your strong scepter from Zion;
[so that you may] rule in the midst of your enemies.
Your people will all volunteer on the day of your power.
On the holy mountains from the womb of dawn,
The dew of your youths will be at your disposal.
Yahweh has sworn and will not change his mind:
"You are a priest forever in the manner of Melchizedek."[2]
The Lord on your right hand smashes[3] kings on the day of his anger.
He judges[4] among the nations, filling them with corpses,
He smashes[5] head[s] over the broad earth.
From the river on the path he[6] drinks:
Therefore he holds [his] head high.
**FOOTNOTES**
[1]:. Jesus...said, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared, `The Lord said to my Lord....' David himself calls him Lord; so how is he his son?" Mark 12:35-37 "...where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." Col 3:1.
[2]:. Cf. Gen 14:18-23. "For this Melchizedek...is without father or mother...and has neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever....This man...received tithes through Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior....One might even say that Levi himself, who now receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him....For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest....He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself." Hebrews 7
[3]:. Or "smashed" or "will smash."
[4]:. Or "will judge" or "has judged."
[5]:. Cf. note 3.
[6]:. That is, the king.
© 2000 Ralph W. Klein