Lettera agli Ebrei 7

NOVA VULGATA	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Hic enim Melchisedech, rex Salem, sacerdos Dei summi, qui ob viavit Abrahae regresso a caede regum et benedixit ei,	1 For this Melchisedech was king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who 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 To whom also Abraham divided the tithes of all: who first indeed by interpretation, is king of justice: and then 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 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but likened unto the Son of God, continueth a priest for ever.
4 Intuemini autem quantus sit hic, cui et decimam dedit de praecipuis Abraham patriarcha.	4 Now consider how great this man is, to whom also Abraham the patriarch gave tithes out of the principal things.
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 indeed they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is to say, of their brethren: though they themselves also came out of the loins of Abraham.
6 hic autem, cuius generatio non annumeratur in eis, decimam sumpsit ab Abraham et eum, qui habebat repromissiones, benedixit.	6 But he, whose pedigree is not numbered among them, received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 Sine ulla autem contradictione, quod minus est, a meliore benedicitur.	7 And without all contradiction, that which is less, is blessed by the better.
8 Et hic quidem decimas morientes homines sumunt; ibi autem testimonium accipiens quia vivit.	8 And here indeed, men that die, receive thithes: but there he hath witness, that he liveth.
9 Et, ut ita dictum sit, per Abraham et Levi, qui decimas accipit, decimatus est;	9 And (as it may be said) even Levi who received tithes, paid tithes in Abraham:
10 adhuc enim in lumbis patris erat, quando obviavit ei Melchisedech.	10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedech 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 If then perfection was by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchisedech, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
12 Translato enim sacerdotio, necesse est, ut et legis translatio fiat.	12 For the priesthood being translated, it is necessary that a translation also be made of the law.
13 De quo enim haec dicuntur, ex alia tribu est, ex qua nullus altari praesto fuit;	13 For he, of whom these things are spoken, is of another tribe, of which no one attended on 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 sprung out of Juda: in which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
15 Et amplius adhuc manifestum est, si secundum similitudinem Melchisedech exsurgit alius sacerdos,	15 And it is yet far more evident: if according to the similitude of Melchisedech there ariseth another priest,
16 qui non secundum legem mandati carnalis factus est sed secundum virtutem vitae insolubilis,	16 Who is made not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the power of an indissoluble life:
17 testimonium enim accipit: “ Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech ”.	17 For he testifieth: Thou art a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech.
18 Reprobatio quidem fit praecedentis mandati propter infirmitatem eius et inutilitatem,	18 There is indeed a setting aside of the former commandment, because of the weakness and unprofitableness thereof:
19 nihil enim ad perfectum adduxit lex; introductio vero melioris spei, per quam proximamus ad Deum.	19 (For the law brought nothing to perfection,) but a bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh to God.
20 Et quantum non est sine iure iurando; illi quidem sine iure iurando sacerdotes facti sunt,	20 And inasmuch as it is not without an oath, (for the others indeed were made priests 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 But this with an oath, by him that said unto him: The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever.)
22 in tantum et melioris testamenti sponsor factus est Iesus.	22 By so much is Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 Et illi quidem plures facti sunt sacerdotes, idcirco quod morte prohibebantur permanere;	23 And the others indeed were made many priests, because by reason of death they were not suffered to continue:
24 hic autem eo quod manet in aeternum, intransgressibile habet sacerdotium;	24 But this, for that he continueth for ever, hath an everlasting priesthood,
25 unde et salvare in perpetuum potest accedentes per semetipsum ad Deum, semper vivens ad interpellandum pro eis.	25 Whereby he is able also to save for ever them that come to God by him; always living to make intercession for us.
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, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than 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 Who needeth not daily (as the other priests) to offer sacrifices first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, in offering himself.
28 Lex enim homines constituit pontifices infirmitatem habentes; sermo autem iuris iurandi, quod post legem est, Filium in aeternum consummatum.	28 For the law maketh men priests, who have infirmity: but the word of the oath, which was since the law, the Son who is perfected for evermore.