Hebræos 7
1 Hic enim Melchisedech, rex Salem, sacerdos Dei summi, qui obviavit Abrahæ regresso a cæde regum, et benedixit ei:
Now this Melchizedek—king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2 cui et decimas omnium divisit Abraham: primum quidem qui interpretatur rex justitiæ: deinde autem et rex Salem, quod est, rex pacis,
to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all (first, his name means ‘king of righteousness’, and then again ‘king of Salem’, which means ‘king of peace’),
3 sine patre, sine matre, sine genealogia, neque initium dierum, neque finem vitæ habens, assimilatus autem Filio Dei, manet sacerdos in perpetuum.
without father, without mother, without genealogy; having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but having been made like the Son of God—remains a priest continually.
4 Intuemini autem quantus sit hic, cui et decimas dedit de præcipuis Abraham patriarcha.
Now consider how great this personage was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils:
5 Et quidem de filiis Levi sacerdotium accipientes, mandatum habent decimas sumere a populo secundum legem, id est, a fratribus suis: quamquam et ipsi exierint de lumbis Abrahæ.
You see, those of the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood have a command, according to the Law, to collect a tithe from the people—that is, from their brothers—even though they too came out of Abraham's body;
6 Cujus autem generatio non annumeratur in eis, decimas sumpsit ab Abraham, et hunc, qui habebat repromissiones, benedixit.
but he whose descent is not counted among them collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7 Sine ulla autem contradictione, quod minus est, a meliore benedicitur.
Now without dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8 Et hic quidem, decimas morientes homines accipiunt: ibi autem contestatur, quia vivit.
Also, here men who die receive tithes, but there he of whom it is testified that he lives
9 Et (ut ita dictum sit) per Abraham, et Levi, qui decimas accepit, decimatus est:
—in a word, even Levi, who receives tithes, paid the tithe through Abraham,
10 adhuc enim in lumbis patris erat, quando obviavit ei Melchisedech.
because he was still in the reproductive system of his forefather when Melchizedek met him.
11 Si ergo consummatio per sacerdotium Leviticum erat (populus enim sub ipso legem accepit) quid adhuc necessarium fuit secundum ordinem Melchisedech, alium surgere sacerdotem, et non secundum ordinem Aaron dici?
Now then, if there could be perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people had received the Law), what further need would there be for a different kind of priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than being called according to the order of Aaron?
12 Translato enim sacerdotio, necesse est ut et legis translatio fiat.
(Because when the priesthood is changed there is also a change of law, of necessity.)
13 In quo enim hæc dicuntur, de alia tribu est, de qua nullus altari præsto fuit.
For He of whom these things are said belongs to a different tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
14 Manifestum est enim quod ex Juda ortus sit Dominus noster: in qua tribu nihil de sacerdotibus Moyses locutus est.
For it is evident that our Lord arose out of Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
15 Et amplius adhuc manifestum est: si secundum similitudinem Melchisedech exsurgat alius sacerdos,
And it all becomes clearer still if a different kind of priest, in the likeness of Melchizedek, appears,
16 qui non secundum legem mandati carnalis factus est, sed secundum virtutem vitæ insolubilis.
who has come, not on the basis of a law about a physical rule but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.
Because He testifies: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (aiōn g165)
18 Reprobatio quidem fit præcedentis mandati, propter infirmitatem ejus, et inutilitatem:
You see, there is an annulling of the former rule because of its weakness and uselessness
19 nihil enim ad perfectum adduxit lex: introductio vero melioris spei, per quam proximamus ad Deum.
(for the Law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
20 Et quantum est non sine jurejurando (alii quidem sine jurejurando sacerdotes facti sunt,
Further, inasmuch as it was not without the taking of an oath
21 hic autem cum jurejurando per eum, qui dixit ad illum: Juravit Dominus, et non pœnitebit eum: tu es sacerdos in æternum): (aiōn g165)
—they indeed had become priests without an oath-taking, but He[S] with an oath by Him[F] who said to Him[S]: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His[F] mind; you are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (aiōn g165)
22 in tantum melioris testamenti sponsor factus est Jesus.
—by so much Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 Et alii quidem plures facti sunt sacerdotes, idcirco quod morte prohiberentur permanere:
Also, there have been many priests because death prevented them from continuing in office;
while He[S], because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. (aiōn g165)
25 Unde et salvare in perpetuum potest accedentes per semetipsum ad Deum: semper vivens ad interpellandum pro nobis.
Therefore He is able to save absolutely those who come to God through Him, since He always lives and can intercede on their behalf.
26 Talis enim decebat ut nobis esset pontifex, sanctus, innocens, impollutus, segregatus a peccatoribus, et excelsior cælis factus:
Now such a High Priest was fitting for us—holy, innocent, undefiled, having been set apart from sinners, and having become higher than the heavens—
27 qui non habet necessitatem quotidie, quemadmodum sacerdotes, prius pro suis delictis hostias offerre, deinde pro populi: hoc enim fecit semel, seipsum offerendo.
who, unlike those high priests, does not need to offer up daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; because He did this once for all when He offered up Himself.
28 Lex enim homines constituit sacerdotes infirmitatem habentes: sermo autem jurisjurandi, qui post legem est, Filium in æternum perfectum. (aiōn g165)
The Law appoints as high priest men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, that came after the Law, appointed Son, forever perfect. (aiōn g165)
