< 希伯來書 7 >
1 原來這默基瑟德是撒冷王,是至高者天主的司祭;當亞巴郎打敗眾王回來時,他來迎接,且祝福了他。
It was this Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and gave him his blessing;
2 亞巴郎就由所有的一切之中,拿出十分之一分給了他;他的名字默基瑟德,第一可稱作「正義之王,」他也可稱作「撒冷之王」,就是「和平之王」之意。
and it was to him that Abraham allotted a tithe of all the spoil. The meaning of his name is “king of righteousness,” and besides that, he was also king of Salem, which means “king of peace.”
3 他無父,無母,無族譜,生無始,壽無終:他好像天主子,永久身為司祭。
There is no record of his father, or mother, or lineage, nor again of any beginning of his days, or end of his life. In this he resembles the Son of God, and stands before us as a priest whose priesthood is continuous.
4 你們要想想:這人是多麼偉大,連聖祖亞巴郎也由上的戰利品中,取了十分之一獻給了他,
Consider, then the importance of this Melchizedek, to whom even the patriarch Abraham himself gave a tithe of the choicest spoils.
5 那些由肋未子孫中領受司職的,固然有命向人民,按法律徵收什一之物,既向他們的弟兄,雖然都是出自亞巴郎的腰中,
Those descendants of Levi, who are from time to time appointed to the priesthood, are directed to collect tithes from the people in accordance with the Law – that is from their own kindred, although they also are descended from Abraham.
6 可是不屬於他們世系的那一位,卻收了亞巴郎的什一之物,並祝福了那蒙受恩許的。
But Melchizedek, although not of this lineage, received tithes from Abraham, and gave his blessing to the man who had God’s promises.
Now no one can dispute that it is the superior who blesses the inferior.
8 在這裏那些領受什一之物的,是有死的人;但是那裏領受什一之物的,卻是一位證明了常活著的人。
In the one case the tithes are received by people who are mortal; in the other case by one about whom there is the statement that his life still continues.
9 並且可說:連那領受什一之物的肋未,也藉著亞巴郎,交納了什一之物,
Moreover, in a sense, even Levi, who is the receiver of the tithes, has, through Abraham, paid tithes;
10 因為當默基瑟德迎接亞巴郎的時候,肋未還在祖先的腰中。
for Levi was still in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met Abraham.
11 那時,如果藉著肋未司祭職能有成全──因為選民就是本著這司祭職接受了法律──為什麼還須要興起另一位,按照默基瑟德品位的司祭,而不稱為亞郎的品位呢﹖
If, then, perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood – and it was under this priesthood that the people received the Law – why was it still necessary that a priest of a different order should appear, a priest of the order of Melchizedek and not of the order of Aaron?
With the change of the priesthood a change of the Law became a necessity.
13 因為這裏所論到的那一位,原是屬於另一支派,由這一支派中,沒有一個人曾在祭壇服務過。
And he of whom all this is said belonged to quite a different tribe, no member of which has ever served at the altar.
14 顯然我們的主是由猶太支派出生的,關於這一支派,梅瑟從未提到司祭的事。
For it is plain that our Lord had sprung from the tribe of Judah, though of that tribe Moses said nothing about their being priests.
15 既然有另一位司祭,是按照默基瑟德的品級興起的,那我們所討論的就更顯明了,
All this becomes even yet plainer when we remember that a new priest has appeared, resembling Melchizedek,
16 因為衪之成為司祭,並不是按照血統所規定的法則,而是按照不可消滅的生命的德能,
and that he was appointed, not under a Law regulating only earthly matters, but by virtue of a life beyond the reach of death;
17 因為有聖經給它作證:『你照默基瑟德的品位永做司祭。』 (aiōn )
for that is the meaning of the declaration – “You are for all time a priest of the order of Melchizedek.” (aiōn )
On the one hand, we have the abolition of a previous regulation as being both inefficient and useless
19 因為法律本來就不能成就什麼;可是如今引進了一個更好的希望,因著這希望,我們纔能親近天主。
(for the Law never brought anything to perfection); and, on the other hand, we have the introduction of a better hope, which enables us to draw near to God.
20 再者,耶穌成為司祭是具有天主誓言其他的司祭並沒有這種誓言就成了司祭。
Then again, the appointment of this new priest was ratified by an oath, which is not so with the Levitical priests,
21 耶穌成為司祭,卻具有誓言,因為天主向他說:『上主一發了誓,他決不再反悔;你永為司祭。』 (aiōn )
but his appointment was ratified by an oath, when God said to him – “The Lord has sworn, and will not change, ‘You are a priest for all time.’” (aiōn )
And the oath shows the corresponding superiority of the covenant of which Jesus is appointed the surety.
23 再者,肋未人成為司祭的,人數眾多,因為死亡阻礙他們長久留任,
Again, new Levitical priests are continually being appointed, because death prevents their remaining in office;
24 但是耶穌因永遠長存,具有不可消逝的司祭品位。 (aiōn )
but Jesus remains for all time, and therefore the priesthood that he holds will never pass to another. (aiōn )
25 因此,凡由他而接近天主的人,他全能拯救,因為他常活著,為他們轉求。
And that is why he is able to save perfectly those who come to God through him, living for ever, as he does, to intercede of their behalf.
26 這樣的大司祭纔適合於我們,他是聖善的、無辜的、無玷的、別於罪人的、高於諸天的;
This was the high priest that we needed – holy, innocent, spotless, withdrawn from sinners, exalted above the highest heaven,
27 無須像那些大司祭一樣,每日要先為自己的罪,後為人民的罪,祭獻犧牲;因為衪奉獻了自己,只一次而為永遠完成了這事,
one who has no need to offer sacrifices daily as those high priests have, first for their own sins, and then for those of the people. For this he did once and for all, when he offered himself as the sacrifice.
28 因為法律所立為大司祭的人是有弱點的;可是在法律以後,以誓言所立的聖子,卻是成全的,直到永遠。 (aiōn )
The Law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the words of God’s oath, which was later than the Law, name the Son as, for all time, the perfect priest. (aiōn )