Lettera agli Ebrei 7

NOVA VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Hic enim Melchisedech, rex Salem, sacerdos Dei summi, qui ob viavit Abrahae regresso a caede regum et benedixit ei,	1 This "Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High," "met Abraham as he returned from his defeat 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 Abraham apportioned to him "a tenth of everything." His name first means righteous king, and he was 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, mother, or ancestry, without beginning of days or end of life, thus made to resemble the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
4 Intuemini autem quantus sit hic, cui et decimam dedit de praecipuis Abraham patriarcha.	4 See how great he is to whom the patriarch "Abraham (indeed) gave a tenth" of his 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 The descendants of Levi who receive the office of priesthood have a commandment according to the law to exact tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, although they also have come from 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 who was not of their ancestry received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises.
7 Sine ulla autem contradictione, quod minus est, a meliore benedicitur.	7 Unquestionably, a lesser person is blessed by a greater.
8 Et hic quidem decimas morientes homines sumunt; ibi autem testimonium accipiens quia vivit.	8 In the one case, mortal men receive tithes; in the other, a man of whom it is testified that he lives on.
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, was tithed through Abraham,
10 adhuc enim in lumbis patris erat, quando obviavit ei Melchisedech.	10 for he was still in his father's loins when Melchizedek 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 came through the levitical priesthood, on the basis of which the people received the law, what need would there still have been for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not reckoned according to the order of Aaron?
12 Translato enim sacerdotio, necesse est, ut et legis translatio fiat.	12 When there is a change of priesthood, there is necessarily a change of law as well.
13 De quo enim haec dicuntur, ex alia tribu est, ex qua nullus altari praesto fuit;	13 Now he of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, of which no member ever officiated at the altar.
14 manifestum enim quod ex Iuda ortus sit Dominus noster, in quam tribum nihil de sacerdotibus Moyses locutus est.	14 It is clear that our Lord arose from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
15 Et amplius adhuc manifestum est, si secundum similitudinem Melchisedech exsurgit alius sacerdos,	15 It is even more obvious if another priest is raised up after the likeness of Melchizedek,
16 qui non secundum legem mandati carnalis factus est sed secundum virtutem vitae insolubilis,	16 who has become so, not by a law expressed in a commandment concerning physical descent but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed.
17 testimonium enim accipit: “ Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech ”.	17 For it is testified: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."
18 Reprobatio quidem fit praecedentis mandati propter infirmitatem eius et inutilitatem,	18 On the one hand, a former commandment is annulled 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 brought nothing to perfection; 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 to the degree that this happened not without the taking of an oath --for others became 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 he with an oath, through the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: 'You are a priest forever'"--
22 in tantum et melioris testamenti sponsor factus est Iesus.	22 to that same degree has Jesus (also) become the guarantee of an (even) better covenant.
23 Et illi quidem plures facti sunt sacerdotes, idcirco quod morte prohibebantur permanere;	23 Those priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office,
24 hic autem eo quod manet in aeternum, intransgressibile habet sacerdotium;	24 but he, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away.
25 unde et salvare in perpetuum potest accedentes per semetipsum ad Deum, semper vivens ad interpellandum pro eis.	25 Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever 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 It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, 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 He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered 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 appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.