Wahebrania 7
1 Ilikuwa hivi Melkizedeki, mfalme wa Salemu, Kuhani wa Mungu aliye juu, aliyekutana na Abrahamu akirudi kutoka kuwaua wafalme na akambariki.
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 Abrahamu alimpa moja ya kumi ya kila kitu alichokuwa amekiteka. Jina lake “Melkizedeki “maana yake” mfalme wa haki” na pia “mflame wa Salemu” ambayo ni “mfalme wa amani.”
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 Hana baba, hana mama, hana wazazi, hana mwanzo wa siku wala mwisho wa maisha yake. Badala yake, anabakia kuhani milele, kama mwana wa Mungu.
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 Sasa fikiria jinsi huyu mtu alivyokuwa mkuu. Mzazi wetu Abrahamu alimpa moja ya kumi ya vitu vizuri alivyovichukua vitani.
Consider, then the importance of this Melchizedek, to whom even the patriarch Abraham himself gave a tithe of the choicest spoils.
5 Na hakika, ukoo wa Walawi waliopokea ofisi za kikuhani walikuwa na amri kutoka kwenye sheria kukusanya moja ya kumi kutoka kwa watu, ambayo ni, kutoka kwa Wairaeli wenzao, pamoja na kwamba wao, pia, ni ukoo kutoka kwa Abrahamu.
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 Lakini Melkizedeki, ambaye hakuwa wa ukoo kutoka kwa Walawi, alipokea moja ya kumi kutoka kwa Abrahamu, na akambariki, yeye aliyekuwa na ahadi.
But Melchizedek, although not of this lineage, received tithes from Abraham, and gave his blessing to the man who had God’s promises.
7 Hapo haikataliwi kwamba mtu mdogo hubarikiwa na mkubwa.
Now no one can dispute that it is the superior who blesses the inferior.
8 Kwa jambo hili mtu apokeaye moja ya kumi atakufa siku moja, lakini kwa jambo jingine mmoja aliyepokea moja ya kumi kwa Abrahamu ikaelezwa kama anayeishi.
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 Na kwa namna ya kuzungumza, Lawi aliyepokea moja ya kumi, pia alilipa moja ya kumi kwa Abrahamu,
Moreover, in a sense, even Levi, who is the receiver of the tithes, has, through Abraham, paid tithes;
10 kwa sababu Lawi alikuwa katika viuno vya baba yake Abrahamu wakati Melkizedeki alipokutana na Abrahamu.
for Levi was still in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met Abraham.
11 Sasa kama ukamilifu uliwezekana kupitia ukuhani wa Lawi, (hivyo chini yake watu hupokea sheria), kulikuwa na hitaji gani zaidi kwa kuhani mwingine kuinuka baada ya mfumo wa Melkizedeki, na siyo kuitwa baada ya mpangilio wa Haruni?
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 Kwa hiyo ukuhani ukibadilika, hapana budi sheria nayo kubadilika.
With the change of the priesthood a change of the Law became a necessity.
13 Kwa mmoja ambaye mambo haya yalisemwa kuhusu kabila jingine, kutoka kwake hakuna aliyehudumu madhabahuni.
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 Sasa ni wazi kwamba Bwana wetu alitoka katika Yuda, kabila ambalo Musa hakutaja kuhusu makuhani.
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 Na haya tusemayo ni wazi hasa ikiwa kuhani mwingine atatokea kwa mfano wa Melkizedeki.
All this becomes even yet plainer when we remember that a new priest has appeared, resembling Melchizedek,
16 Kuhani huyu mpya siyo mmoja ambaye amekuwa kuhani juu ya msingi wa sheria zinazohusiana na uzao wa mtu, lakini katika msingi wa nguvu ya maisha yasiyoweza kuharibika.
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 Hivyo maandiko yanashuhudia kuhusu yeye: “Wewe ni kuhani milele baada ya mfumo wa Melkizedeki.” (aiōn g165)
for that is the meaning of the declaration – ‘You are for all time a priest of the order of Melchizedek.’ (aiōn g165)
18 Kwa kuwa amri iliyotangulia iliwekwa pembeni kwa sababu ilikuwa dhaifu na haifai.
On the one hand, we have the abolition of a previous regulation as being both inefficient and useless
19 Hivyo sheria haikufanya chochote kikamilifu. Isipokuwa, kulikuwa na ujasiri mzuri kwa hayo tunamsogelea Mungu.
(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 Na Ujasiri huu mzuri haukutokea pasipo kuzungumzia kiapo, kwa hili makuhani wengine hawakuchukua kiapo chochote.
Then again, the appointment of this new priest was ratified by an oath, which is not so with the Levitical priests,
21 Lakini Mungu alichukua kiapo wakati aliposema kuhusu Yesu, “Bwana ameapa na hatabadilisha mawazo yake.' wewe ni kuhani milele.” (aiōn g165)
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 g165)
22 Kwa hili Yesu pia amekuja kuwa dhamana ya agano bora.
And the oath shows the corresponding superiority of the covenant of which Jesus is appointed the surety.
23 Kwa hakika, kifo huzuia makuhani kuhudumu milele. Hii ni kwa sababu walikuwapo makuhani wengi, mmoja baada ya mwingine.
Again, new Levitical priests are continually being appointed, because death prevents their remaining in office;
but Jesus remains for all time, and therefore the priesthood that he holds will never pass to another. (aiōn g165)
25 Kwa hiyo yeye pia anaweza kwa ukamilifu kukamilisha kuwaokoa wanaomkaribia Mungu kupitia kwake, kwa kuwa yeye anaishi daima kwa kuomba kwa ajili yao.
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 Kwa hiyo kuhani mkuu wa namna hii anastahili kwetu. Asiye na dhambi, hatia, msafi, aliyetengwa kutoka kwa wenye dhambi, na amekuwa juu kuliko mbingu.
This was the high priest that we needed – holy, innocent, spotless, withdrawn from sinners, exalted above the highest heaven,
27 Yeye hakuwa na uhitaji, mfano wa makuhani wakuu, kutoa dhabihu kila siku, kwanza kwa dhambi yake mwenyewe, na baadaye kwa dhambi za watu. Alifanya hivi mara moja kwa wote, alipojitoa yeye mwenyewe.
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 Kwa sheria huwateua watu dhaifu kuwa makuhani wakuu, lakini neno la kiapo, lililokuja baada ya sheria, alimteua Mwana, aliyefanywa kuwa mkamilifu milele. (aiōn g165)
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 g165)
