Hebraeos 7

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Hic enim Melchisedech, rex Salem, sacerdos Dei summi, qui obviavit Abrahæ regresso a cæde 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 decimas omnium divisit Abraham : primum quidem qui interpretatur rex justitiæ : 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 vitæ 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 decimas dedit de præcipuis Abraham patriarcha.	4 See how great he is to whom the patriarch "Abraham (indeed) gave a tenth" of his 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.	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 Cujus autem generatio non annumeratur in eis, decimas sumpsit ab Abraham, et hunc, 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 accipiunt : ibi autem contestatur, 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 accepit, 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 fuit 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 In quo enim hæc dicuntur, de alia tribu est, de qua nullus altari præsto 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 est enim quod ex Juda ortus sit Dominus noster : in qua tribu 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 exsurgat 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 vitæ 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 Contestatur enim : Quoniam tu es sacerdos in æternum, secundum ordinem Melchisedech.	17 For it is testified: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."
18 Reprobatio quidem fit præcedentis mandati, propter infirmitatem ejus, 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 est non sine jurejurando (alii quidem sine jurejurando 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 jurejurando per eum, qui dixit ad illum : Juravit Dominus, et non pœnitebit eum : tu es sacerdos in æternum) :	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 melioris testamenti sponsor factus est Jesus.	22 to that same degree has Jesus (also) become the guarantee of an (even) better covenant.
23 Et alii quidem plures facti sunt sacerdotes, idcirco quod morte prohiberentur permanere :	23 Those priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office,
24 hic autem eo quod maneat in æternum, sempiternum 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 nobis.	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 decebat ut nobis esset pontifex, sanctus, innocens, impollutus, segregatus a peccatoribus, et excelsior cælis 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 quotidie, quemadmodum sacerdotes, prius pro suis delictis hostias offerre, deinde pro populi : hoc enim fecit semel, seipsum 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 sacerdotes infirmitatem habentes : sermo autem jurisjurandi, qui post legem est, Filium in æternum perfectum.	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.