Hebrews 7

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

For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

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

To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

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

Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

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

Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

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

And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

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

But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

sine ulla autem contradictione quod minus est a meliore benedicitur

And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

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

And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

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

And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

adhuc enim in lumbis patris erat quando obviavit ei Melchisedech

For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

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

If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

translato enim sacerdotio necesse est ut et legis translatio fiat

For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

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

For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

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

For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

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

And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

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

Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

contestatur enim quoniam tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech

For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

reprobatio quidem fit praecedentis mandati propter infirmitatem eius et inutilitatem

For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

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

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

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

And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

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

(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

in tantum melioris testamenti sponsor factus est Iesus

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

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

And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

hic autem eo quod maneat in aeternum sempiternum habet sacerdotium

But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

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

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

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

For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

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

Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

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

For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.