< Hebreus 7 >
1 Porque este Melchisedec era rei de Salém, sacerdote do Deus altíssimo, o qual saiu ao encontro de Abraão, quando ele regressava da matança dos reis, e o abençoou:
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 Ao qual também Abraão deu o dízimo de tudo; e primeiramente interpreta-se rei de justiça, e depois também rei de Salém, que é rei de paz,
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 Sem pai, sem mãe, sem genealogia, não tendo princípio de dias nem fim de vida, mas sendo feito semelhante ao Filho de Deus, permanece sacerdote para sempre:
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 Considerai pois quão grande era este, a quem até o patriarcha Abraão deu os dízimos dos despojos.
Consider, then the importance of this Melchizedek, to whom even the patriarch Abraham himself gave a tithe of the choicest spoils.
5 E os que dentre os filhos de Levi recebem o sacerdócio tem preceito, segundo a lei, de tomar o dízimo do povo, isto é, de seus irmãos, ainda que tenham saído dos lombos de Abraão.
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 Mas aquele cuja genealogia não é contada entre eles tomou dízimos de Abraão, e abençoou o que tinha as promessas.
But Melchizedek, although not of this lineage, received tithes from Abraham, and gave his blessing to the man who had God’s promises.
7 Ora, sem contradição alguma, o menor é abençoado pelo maior.
Now no one can dispute that it is the superior who blesses the inferior.
8 E aqui certamente tomam dízimos homens que morrem: ali, porém, aquele de quem se testifica que vive.
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 E, para assim dizer, também Levi, que toma os dízimos, foi dizimado em Abraão.
Moreover, in a sense, even Levi, who is the receiver of the tithes, has, through Abraham, paid tithes;
10 Porque ainda ele estava nos lombos do pai quando Melchisedec lhe saiu ao encontro.
for Levi was still in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met Abraham.
11 De sorte que, se a perfeição fosse pelo sacerdócio levítico (porque debaixo dele o povo recebeu a lei), que necessidade havia logo de que outro sacerdote se levantasse, segundo a ordem de Melchisedec, e não fosse chamado segundo a ordem de Aarão?
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?
12 Porque, mudando-se o sacerdócio, necessariamente se faz também mudança da lei.
With the change of the priesthood a change of the Law became a necessity.
13 Porque aquele de quem estas coisas se dizem pertence a outra tribo, da qual ninguém serviu ao altar,
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 Visto ser manifesto que nosso Senhor procedeu de Judá, sobre a qual tribo nunca Moisés falou de sacerdócio.
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 E muito mais manifesto é ainda se à semelhança de Melchisedec se levantar outro sacerdote,
All this becomes even yet plainer when we remember that a new priest has appeared, resembling Melchizedek,
16 O qual não foi feito segundo a lei do mandamento carnal, mas segundo a virtude da vida incorruptível.
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 Porque assim testifica dele: Tu és sacerdote eternamente, segundo a ordem de Melchisedec. (aiōn )
for that is the meaning of the declaration – ‘You are for all time a priest of the order of Melchizedek.’ (aiōn )
18 Porque o precedente mandamento abroga-se por causa da sua fraqueza e inutilidade
On the one hand, we have the abolition of a previous regulation as being both inefficient and useless
19 (Porque a lei nenhuma coisa aperfeiçoou) e a introdução de uma melhor esperança, pela qual chegamos a Deus.
(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 E porquanto não foi feito sem juramento (porque certamente aqueles sem juramento foram feitos sacerdotes,
Then again, the appointment of this new priest was ratified by an oath, which is not so with the Levitical priests,
21 Mas este com juramento, por aquele que lhe disse: Jurou o Senhor, e não se arrependerá: Tu és sacerdote eternamente, segundo a ordem de Melchisedec), (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 )
22 De tanto melhor concerto Jesus foi feito fiador.
And the oath shows the corresponding superiority of the covenant of which Jesus is appointed the surety.
23 E, na verdade, aqueles foram feitos sacerdotes em grande número, porquanto pela morte foram impedidos de permanecer,
Again, new Levitical priests are continually being appointed, because death prevents their remaining in office;
24 Mas este, porque permanece eternamente, tem um sacerdócio perpétuo. (aiōn )
but Jesus remains for all time, and therefore the priesthood that he holds will never pass to another. (aiōn )
25 Portanto, pode também salvar perfeitamente aos que por ele se chegam a Deus, vivendo sempre para interceder por eles.
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 Porque nos convinha tal sumo sacerdote, santo, inocente, imaculado, separado dos pecadores, e feito mais sublime do que os céus;
This was the high priest that we needed – holy, innocent, spotless, withdrawn from sinners, exalted above the highest heaven,
27 Que não necessitasse, como os sumos sacerdotes, de oferecer cada dia sacrifícios, primeiramente por seus próprios pecados, e depois pelos do povo; porque isto fez ele, uma vez, oferecendo-se a si mesmo.
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 Porque a lei constitui sumos sacerdotes a homens fracos, mas a palavra do juramento, que veio depois da lei, constitui ao Filho, que para sempre foi aperfeiçoado. (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 )