Wahebrania 7
1 Kwa kuwa huyu Melkizedeki alikuwa mfalme wa Salemu na kuhani wa Mungu Aliye Juu Sana. Alipokutana na Abrahamu akirudi kutoka kuwashinda hao wafalme, Melkizedeki alimbariki,
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2 naye Abrahamu alimpa sehemu ya kumi ya kila kitu. Kwanza, jina hilo Melkizedeki maana yake ni “mfalme wa haki.” Na pia “mfalme wa Salemu” maana yake ni “mfalme wa amani.”
and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”
3 Hana Baba wala mama, hana ukoo, hana mwanzo wala mwisho wa siku zake. Kama Mwana wa Mungu, yeye adumu akiwa kuhani milele.
Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.
4 Tazama jinsi alivyokuwa mkuu: Hata Abrahamu, baba yetu mkuu, alimpa sehemu ya kumi ya nyara zake.
Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.
5 Basi sheria inawaagiza wana wa Lawi ambao hufanyika makuhani kupokea sehemu ya kumi kutoka kwa watu ambao ni ndugu zao, ingawa ndugu zao ni wazao wa Abrahamu.
Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.
6 Huyu Melkizedeki, ingawa hakufuatia ukoo wake kutoka kwa Lawi, lakini alipokea sehemu ya kumi kutoka kwa Abrahamu na kumbariki yeye aliyekuwa na zile ahadi.
But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7 Wala hakuna shaka kwamba mdogo hubarikiwa na aliye mkuu kumliko yeye.
And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8 Kwa upande mmoja, sehemu ya kumi hupokelewa na wale ambao hupatikana na kufa; lakini kwa upande mwingine hupokelewa na yeye ambaye hushuhudiwa kuwa yu hai.
In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on.
9 Mtu anaweza hata kusema kwamba Lawi, ambaye hupokea sehemu ya kumi, alitoa hiyo sehemu ya kumi kupitia kwa Abrahamu,
And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.
10 kwa sababu Melkizedeki alipokutana na Abrahamu, Lawi alikuwa bado katika viuno vya baba yake wa zamani.
For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.
11 Kama ukamilifu ungeweza kupatikana kwa njia ya ukuhani wa Walawi (kwa kuwa katika msingi huo, sheria ilitolewa kwa watu), kwa nini basi imekuwepo haja ya kuja kuhani mwingine: kuhani kwa mfano wa Melkizedeki, wala si kwa mfano wa Aroni?
Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?
12 Kwa kuwa yanapotokea mabadiliko ya ukuhani, pia lazima yawepo mabadiliko ya sheria.
For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.
13 Yeye ambaye mambo haya yanasemwa alikuwa wa kabila lingine, na hakuna mtu wa kabila hilo aliyewahi kuhudumu katika madhabahu.
He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
14 Kwa maana ni dhahiri kwamba Bwana wetu alitoka katika uzao wa Yuda, tena kuhusu kabila hilo Mose hakusema lolote kwa habari za makuhani.
For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.
15 Tena hayo tuliyosema yako wazi zaidi kama akitokea kuhani mwingine kama Melkizedeki,
And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,
16 yeye ambaye amefanyika kuhani si kwa misingi ya sheria kama ilivyokuwa kwa baba zake, bali kwa misingi ya uwezo wa uzima usioharibika.
one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.
For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” (aiōn g165)
18 Kwa upande mmoja, ile amri ya mwanzo isiyofaa na dhaifu imebatilishwa
So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless
19 (kwa maana sheria haikufanya kitu chochote kuwa kikamilifu). Kwa upande mwingine, tumeletewa tumaini lililo bora zaidi ambalo linatuleta karibu na Mungu.
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20 Nalo tumaini hilo halikutolewa pasipo kiapo! Wengine walikuwa makuhani pasipo kiapo chochote,
And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,
21 lakini Yesu alifanywa kuhani kwa kiapo wakati Mungu alimwambia: “Bwana ameapa naye hatabadilisha mawazo yake: ‘Wewe ni kuhani milele.’” (aiōn g165)
but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’” (aiōn g165)
22 Kwa ajili ya kiapo hiki, Yesu amekuwa mdhamini wa agano lililo bora zaidi.
Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 Basi pamekuwepo na makuhani wengi wa aina hiyo, kwa kuwa kifo kiliwazuia kuendelea na huduma yao ya ukuhani.
Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.
But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. (aiōn g165)
25 Kwa hiyo anaweza kuwaokoa kabisa wale wanaomjia Mungu kupitia kwake, kwa sababu yeye adumu daima kuomba kwa ajili yao.
Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
26 Kwa kuwa ilitupasa tuwe na Kuhani Mkuu wa namna hii, yaani, aliye mtakatifu, asiye na lawama, asiye na dosari, aliyetengwa na wenye dhambi na kuinuliwa juu ya mbingu.
Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27 Yeye hahitaji kutoa dhabihu siku kwa siku kwa ajili ya dhambi, kwanza kwa ajili ya dhambi zake mwenyewe, kisha kwa ajili ya dhambi za watu kama wale makuhani wakuu wengine. Yeye alitoa dhabihu kwa ajili ya dhambi zao mara moja tu, alipojitoa mwenyewe.
Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.
28 Kwa kuwa sheria huwaweka makuhani wakuu watu ambao ni dhaifu; lakini lile neno la kiapo, lililokuja baada ya sheria, lilimweka Mwana, ambaye amefanywa kuwa mkamilifu milele. (aiōn g165)
For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. (aiōn g165)
