Hebrews 7

1 It was this Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and gave him his blessing;

hic enim Melchisedech rex Salem sacerdos Dei summi qui obviavit Abrahae regresso a caede regum et benedixit ei

2 and it was to him that Abraham allotted a tithe of all the spoil. The meaning of his name is “king of righteousness,” and besides that, he was also king of Salem, which means “king of peace.”

cui decimas omnium divisit Abraham primum quidem qui interpretatur rex iustitiae deinde autem et rex Salem quod est rex pacis

3 There is no record of his father, or mother, or lineage, nor again of any beginning of his days, or end of his life. In this he resembles the Son of God, and stands before us as a priest whose priesthood is continuous.

sine patre sine matre sine genealogia neque initium dierum neque finem vitae habens adsimilatus autem Filio Dei manet sacerdos in perpetuum

4 Consider, then the importance of this Melchizedek, to whom even the patriarch Abraham himself gave a tithe of the choicest spoils.

intuemini autem quantus sit hic cui et decimam dedit de praecipuis Abraham patriarcha

5 Those descendants of Levi, who are from time to time appointed to the priesthood, are directed to collect tithes from the people in accordance with the Law – that is from their own kindred, although they also are descended from Abraham.

et quidem de filiis Levi sacerdotium accipientes mandatum habent decimas sumere a populo secundum legem id est a fratribus suis quamquam et ipsi exierunt de lumbis Abrahae

6 But Melchizedek, although not of this lineage, received tithes from Abraham, and gave his blessing to the man who had God’s promises.

cuius autem generatio non adnumeratur in eis decimas sumpsit Abraham et hunc qui habebat repromissiones benedixit

7 Now no one can dispute that it is the superior who blesses the inferior.

sine ulla autem contradictione quod minus est a meliore benedicitur

8 In the one case the tithes are received by people who are mortal; in the other case by one about whom there is the statement that his life still continues.

et hic quidem decimas morientes homines accipiunt ibi autem contestatus quia vivit

9 Moreover, in a sense, even Levi, who is the receiver of the tithes, has, through Abraham, paid tithes;

et ut ita dictum sit per Abraham et Levi qui decimas accipit decimatus est

10 for Levi was still in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met Abraham.

adhuc enim in lumbis patris erat quando obviavit ei Melchisedech

11 If, then, perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood – and it was under this priesthood that the people received the Law – why was it still necessary that a priest of a different order should appear, a priest of the order of Melchizedek and not of the order of Aaron?

si ergo consummatio per sacerdotium leviticum erat populus enim sub ipso legem accepit quid adhuc necessarium secundum ordinem Melchisedech alium surgere sacerdotem et non secundum ordinem Aaron dici

12 With the change of the priesthood a change of the Law became a necessity.

translato enim sacerdotio necesse est ut et legis translatio fiat

13 And he of whom all this is said belonged to quite a different tribe, no member of which has ever served at the altar.

in quo enim haec dicuntur de alia tribu est de qua nullus altario praesto fuit

14 For it is plain that our Lord had sprung from the tribe of Judah, though of that tribe Moses said nothing about their being priests.

manifestum enim quod ex Iuda ortus sit Dominus noster in qua tribu nihil de sacerdotibus Moses locutus est

15 All this becomes even yet plainer when we remember that a new priest has appeared, resembling Melchizedek,

et amplius adhuc manifestum est si secundum similitudinem Melchisedech exsurgit alius sacerdos

16 and that he was appointed, not under a Law regulating only earthly matters, but by virtue of a life beyond the reach of death;

qui non secundum legem mandati carnalis factus est sed secundum virtutem vitae insolubilis

17 for that is the meaning of the declaration – “You are for all time a priest of the order of Melchizedek.” (aiōn g165)

contestatur enim quoniam tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech (aiōn g165)

18 On the one hand, we have the abolition of a previous regulation as being both inefficient and useless

reprobatio quidem fit praecedentis mandati propter infirmitatem eius et inutilitatem

19 (for the Law never brought anything to perfection); and, on the other hand, we have the introduction of a better hope, which enables us to draw near to God.

nihil enim ad perfectum adduxit lex introductio vero melioris spei per quam proximamus ad Deum

20 Then again, the appointment of this new priest was ratified by an oath, which is not so with the Levitical priests,

et quantum est non sine iureiurando alii quidem sine iureiurando sacerdotes facti sunt

21 but his appointment was ratified by an oath, when God said to him – “The Lord has sworn, and will not change, ‘You are a priest for all time.’” (aiōn g165)

hic autem cum iureiurando per eum qui dixit ad illum iuravit Dominus et non paenitebit tu es sacerdos in aeternum (aiōn g165)

22 And the oath shows the corresponding superiority of the covenant of which Jesus is appointed the surety.

in tantum melioris testamenti sponsor factus est Iesus

23 Again, new Levitical priests are continually being appointed, because death prevents their remaining in office;

et alii quidem plures facti sunt sacerdotes idcirco quod morte prohiberentur permanere

24 but Jesus remains for all time, and therefore the priesthood that he holds will never pass to another. (aiōn g165)

hic autem eo quod maneat in aeternum sempiternum habet sacerdotium (aiōn g165)

25 And that is why he is able to save perfectly those who come to God through him, living for ever, as he does, to intercede of their behalf.

unde et salvare in perpetuo potest accedentes per semet ipsum ad Deum semper vivens ad interpellandum pro eis

26 This was the high priest that we needed – holy, innocent, spotless, withdrawn from sinners, exalted above the highest heaven,

talis enim decebat ut nobis esset pontifex sanctus innocens inpollutus segregatus a peccatoribus et excelsior caelis factus

27 one who has no need to offer sacrifices daily as those high priests have, first for their own sins, and then for those of the people. For this he did once and for all, when he offered himself as the sacrifice.

qui non habet cotidie necessitatem quemadmodum sacerdotes prius pro suis delictis hostias offerre deinde pro populi hoc enim fecit semel se offerendo

28 The Law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the words of God’s oath, which was later than the Law, name the Son as, for all time, the perfect priest. (aiōn g165)

lex enim homines constituit sacerdotes infirmitatem habentes sermo autem iurisiurandi qui post legem est Filium in aeternum perfectum (aiōn g165)