Epistula ad Hebraeos, 7

1. Hic enim Melchisedech, rex Salem, sacerdos Dei summi, qui ob viavit Abrahae regresso a caede regum et benedixit ei,

1. For this Melchiz'edek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him;

2. cui et decimam omnium divisit Abraham, primum quidem, qui interpretatur rex iustitiae, deinde autem et rex Salem, quod est rex Pacis,

2. and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.

3. sine patre, sine matre, sine genealogia, neque initium dierum neque finem vitae habens, assimilatus autem Filio Dei, manet sacerdos in perpetuum.

3. He is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest for ever.

4. Intuemini autem quantus sit hic, cui et decimam dedit de praecipuis Abraham patriarcha.

4. See how great he is! Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of the spoils.

5. Et illi quidem, qui de filiis Levi sacerdotium accipiunt, mandatum habent decimas sumere a populo secundum legem, id est a fratribus suis, quamquam et ipsi exierunt de lumbis Abrahae;

5. And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brethren, though these also are descended from Abraham.

6. hic autem, cuius generatio non annumeratur in eis, decimam sumpsit ab Abraham et eum, qui habebat repromissiones, benedixit.

6. But this man who has not their genealogy received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

7. Sine ulla autem contradictione, quod minus est, a meliore benedicitur.

7. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.

8. Et hic quidem decimas morientes homines sumunt; ibi autem testimonium accipiens quia vivit.

8. Here tithes are received by mortal men; there, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.

9. Et, ut ita dictum sit, per Abraham et Levi, qui decimas accipit, decimatus est;

9. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,

10. adhuc enim in lumbis patris erat, quando obviavit ei Melchisedech.

10. for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchiz'edek met him.

11. 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?

11. Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levit'ical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchiz'edek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?

12. Translato enim sacerdotio, necesse est, ut et legis translatio fiat.

12. For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.

13. De quo enim haec dicuntur, ex alia tribu est, ex qua nullus altari praesto fuit;

13. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

14. manifestum enim quod ex Iuda ortus sit Dominus noster, in quam tribum nihil de sacerdotibus Moyses locutus est.

14. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

15. Et amplius adhuc manifestum est, si secundum similitudinem Melchisedech exsurgit alius sacerdos,

15. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchiz'edek,

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

16. who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life.

17. testimonium enim accipit: “Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech”.

17. For it is witnessed of him, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchiz'edek."

18. Reprobatio quidem fit praecedentis mandati propter infirmitatem eius et inutilitatem,

18. On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness

19. nihil enim ad perfectum adduxit lex; introductio vero melioris spei, per quam proximamus ad Deum.

19. (for the law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

20. Et quantum non est sine iure iurando; illi quidem sine iure iurando sacerdotes facti sunt,

20. And it was not without an oath.

21. hic autem cum iure iurando per eum, qui dicit ad illum: “Iuravit Dominus et non paenitebit eum: Tu es sacerdos in aeternum”,

21. Those who formerly became priests took their office without an oath, but this one was addressed with an oath, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, `Thou art a priest for ever.'"

22. in tantum et melioris testamenti sponsor factus est Iesus.

22. This makes Jesus the surety of a better covenant.

23. Et illi quidem plures facti sunt sacerdotes, idcirco quod morte prohibebantur permanere;

23. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office;

24. hic autem eo quod manet in aeternum, intransgressibile habet sacerdotium;

24. but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever.

25. unde et salvare in perpetuum potest accedentes per semetipsum ad Deum, semper vivens ad interpellandum pro eis.

25. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

26. Talis enim et decebat ut nobis esset pontifex, sanctus, innocens, impollutus, segregatus a peccatoribus et excelsior caelis factus;

26. For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

27. qui non habet necessitatem cotidie, quemadmodum pontifices, prius pro suis delictis hostias offerre, deinde pro populi; hoc enim fecit semel semetipsum offerendo.

27. 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.

28. Lex enim homines constituit pontifices infirmitatem habentes; sermo autem iuris iurandi, quod post legem est, Filium in aeternum consummatum.

28. Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever.