Hebrews 7
1 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;
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。
2 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.’
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。
3 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.
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。
4 Consider, then the importance of this Melchizedek, to whom even the Patriarch Abraham himself gave a tithe of the choicest spoils.
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，
5 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 Brothers, although they also are descended from Abraham.
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，
6 But Melchizedek, although not of this lineage, received tithes from Abraham, and gave his blessing to the very man who had God’s promises.
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。
7 Now no one can dispute that it is the superior who blesses the inferior.
從來，在下的受在上的祝福，這是無人可反對的。
8 In the one case the tithes are received by mortal men; in the other case by one about whom there is the statement that his life still continues.
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。
9 Moreover, in a sense, even Levi, who is the receiver of the tithes, has, through Abraham, paid tithes;
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，
10 for Levi was still in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met Abraham.
因為當默基瑟德迎接亞巴郎的時候，肋未還在祖先的腰中。
11 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?
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﹖
12 With the change of the priesthood a change of the Law became a necessity.
如今司祭職一變更，法律也必然變更，
13 And he of whom all this is said belonged to quite a different tribe, no member of which has ever served at the altar.
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。
14 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.
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。
15 All this becomes even yet plainer when we remember that a new priest has appeared, resembling Melchizedek,
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，
16 and that he was appointed, not under a Law regulating only earthly matters, but by virtue of a life beyond the reach of death;
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，
17 for that is the meaning of the declaration — ‘Thou art for all time a priest of the order of Melchizedek.’ (aiōn g165)
因為有聖經給它作證：『你照默基瑟德的品位永做司祭。』 (aiōn g165)
18 On the one hand, we have the abolition of a previous regulation as being both inefficient and useless
先前的誡命之廢除，是由於它的弱點和無用，
19 (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.
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。
20 Then again, the appointment of this new priest was ratified by an oath, which is not so with the Levitical priests,
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。
21 but his appointment was ratified by an oath, when God said to him — ‘The Lord has sworn, and will not change, “Thou art a priest for all time.”’ (aiōn g165)
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 g165)
22 And the oath shows the corresponding superiority of the Covenant of which Jesus is appointed the surety.
如此，耶穌就成了更好的盟約的擔保人。
23 Again, new Levitical priests are continually being appointed, because death prevents their remaining in office;
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，
24 but Jesus remains for all time, and therefore the priesthood that he holds is never liable to pass to another. (aiōn g165)
但是耶穌因永遠長存，具有不可消逝的司祭品位。 (aiōn g165)
25 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.
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。
26 This was the High Priest that we needed — holy, innocent, spotless, withdrawn from sinners, exalted above the highest Heaven,
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；
27 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.
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，
