17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and his allied kings, the king of Sodom went out to meet Abram in Shaveh valley (also called the king’s valley) . 18 Then Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine—he was a priest to the most high God.[ref] 19 Melchizedek blessed Abram, saying:

“May Abram be blessed by the most high God,

the owner of heaven and earth.

20 Praise the most high God,

who enabled you to defeat your enemies.”

Then Abram gave to Melchizedek a tenth of everything he had recovered.

21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give my people back to me, but keep the possessions for yourself.”

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I promise by Yahweh, most high God, the owner of heaven and earth, 23 that I won’t take anything of yours, not even the strap of a sandal, so that you won’t be able to say that it was you who made me wealthy. 24 I’ll take nothing, except what the young fighters have eaten, and the share of the other men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their share.”