KumaHebheru 8
1 Isiqokoqela salokho esikutshoyo yilesi: Silaye umphristi omkhulu onjalo, owahlala phansi esandleni sokunene kwesihlalo sobukhosi soMkhulu ezulwini,
To sum up what I have been saying: Such is the high priest that we have, one who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God’s Majesty in heaven,
2 okhonzayo endaweni engcwele, ithabanikeli eliqotho elamiswa yiNkosi hatshi ngabantu.
where he serves in the sanctuary, in that true tent set up by the Lord and not by man.
3 Umphristi omkhulu ngamunye ubekelwe ukunikela izipho lemihlatshelo, ngakho kwakufanele ukuba lalo abe lolutho alunikelayo.
Every high priest is appointed for the purpose of offering gifts and sacrifices to God; it follows, therefore, that this high priest must have some offering to make.
4 Aluba wayesemhlabeni wayengayikuba ngumphristi ngoba bevele bekhona abantu abanikela izipho eziphawulwa ngumthetho.
If he were, however, still on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts as the Law directs.
5 Bakhonza endaweni engcwele engumfanekiso lesithunzi salokho okusezulwini. Yikho-nje uMosi waxwayiswa lapho esezakwakha ithabanikeli ngokuthi: “Qaphela ukuba wenze konke njengalokhu owakutshengiswa entabeni.”
(These priests, it is true, are engaged in a service which is only a copy and shadow of the heavenly realities, as is shown by the directions given to Moses when he was about to construct the tent. “Look to it,” are the words, “that you make every part in accordance with the pattern shown you on the mountain.”)
6 Kodwa inkonzo uJesu ayemukeleyo ingcono kuleyabo njengesivumelwano yena angumeli waso singcono kulesidala njalo sakhelwe phezu kwezithembiso ezingcono.
But Jesus, as we see, has obtained a ministry as far excelling theirs, as the covenant of which he is the intermediary, based, as it is, on better promises, excels the former covenant.
7 Ngoba aluba kwakungelalutho olungalunganga kusivumelwano sakuqala leso, akulasizatho esasingadingelwa esinye.
If that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second.
8 Kodwa uNkulunkulu wathola isici ebantwini wasesithi: “Isikhathi siyeza, kutsho iNkosi, lapho engizakwenza khona isivumelwano esitsha lendlu ka-Israyeli kanye lendlu kaJuda.
But, finding fault with the people, God says – “‘A time is coming,’ says the Lord, ‘When I will ratify a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah –
9 Kasiyikufana lesivumelwano engasenza labokhokho babo lapho engababamba khona ngesandla ukuba ngibakhuphe eGibhithe, ngoba kabaqhubekanga bethembekile esivumelwaneni sami, ngasengibadela, kutsho iNkosi.
Not such a covenant as I made with their ancestors on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not abide by their covenant with me, and therefore I disregarded them,’ says the Lord.
10 Nansi isivumelwano engizasenza lendlu ka-Israyeli, ngemva kwalesosikhathi, kutsho iNkosi. Ngizabeka imithetho yami ezingqondweni zabo, ngiyilobe ezinhliziyweni zabo. Ngizakuba nguNkulunkulu wabo, bona babengabantu bami.
‘This is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel after those days,’ says the Lord. ‘I will impress my laws on their minds, and will inscribe them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.
11 Umuntu kasayikufundisa umakhelwane wakhe, kumbe umfowabo, esithi, ‘Yazi iNkosi,’ ngoba bonke bazangazi, kusukela komncinyane wabo kusiya komkhulu.
There will be no need for anyone to instruct their fellow citizen, or for a person to say to their relatives “Learn to know the Lord”; for everyone will know me, from the lowest to the highest.
12 Ngoba ngizabathethelela ububi babo, njalo angiyikukhumbula izono zabo futhi.”
For I will be merciful to their wrongdoings, and I will no longer remember their sins.’”
13 Ngokuthi isivumelwano lesi “sitsha” wenze esakuqala sangasasebenzi; futhi okungasasebenzi lokugugileyo kuzanyamalala masinyane.
By speaking of a new covenant, God at once renders the former covenant obsolete; and whatever becomes obsolete and loses its force is virtually annulled.
