< Wahebrania 7 >
1 Melkisedeki alikuwa mfalme wa Salemu, na kuhani wa Mungu Mkuu. Abrahamu alipokuwa anarudi kutoka vitani ambako aliwaua wafalme, Melkisedeki alikutana naye akambariki,
For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 naye Abrahamu akampa sehemu ya kumi ya vitu vyote alivyokuwa navyo. (Maana ya kwanza ya jina hili Melkisedeki ni “Mfalme wa Uadilifu”; na, kwa vile yeye alikuwa mfalme wa Salemu, jina lake pia lina maana ya “Mfalme wa Amani.”)
To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 Baba yake na mama yake hawatajwi, wala ukoo wake hautajwi; haisemwi alizaliwa lini au alikufa lini. Anafanana na Mwana wa Mungu, na anaendelea kuwa kuhani daima.
Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like to the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4 Basi, mwaona jinsi mtu huyu alivyokuwa maarufu. Baba Abrahamu alimpa sehemu moja ya kumi ya vitu vyote alivyoteka vitani.
Now consider how great this man [was], to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5 Tunajua vilevile kwamba kufuatana na Sheria, wana wa Lawi ambao ni makuhani, wanayo haki ya kuchukua sehemu ya kumi kutoka kwa watu, yaani ndugu zao, ingawaje nao ni watoto wa Abrahamu.
And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they come from the loins of Abraham:
6 Lakini huyo Melkisedeki hakuwa wa ukoo wa Lawi, hata hivyo alipokea sehemu ya kumi kutoka kwa Abrahamu; tena akambariki yeye ambaye alikuwa amepewa ahadi ya Mungu.
But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 Hakuna mashaka hata kidogo kwamba anayebariki ni mkuu zaidi kuliko yule anayebarikiwa.
And without all contradiction the less is blessed by the better.
8 Tena, hao makuhani wanaopokea sehemu ya kumi, ni watu ambao hufa; lakini hapa anayepokea sehemu ya kumi, yaani Melkisedeki, anasemekana kwamba hafi.
And here men that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is testified that he liveth.
9 Twaweza, basi, kusema kwamba Abrahamu alipotoa sehemu moja ya kumi, Lawi (ambaye watoto wake hupokea sehemu moja ya kumi) alitoa sehemu moja ya kumi pia.
And as I may say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 Maana Lawi hakuwa amezaliwa bado, bali ni kama alikuwa katika mwili wa baba yake, Abrahamu, wakati Melkisedeki alipokutana naye.
For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
11 Kutokana na ukuhani wa Walawi, watu wa Israeli walipewa Sheria. Sasa, kama huduma ya Walawi ingalikuwa kamilifu hapangekuwa tena na haja ya kutokea ukuhani mwingine tofauti, ukuhani ambao umefuata utaratibu wa ukuhani wa Melkisedeki, na si ule wa Aroni.
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law) what further need [was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 Maana ukuhani ukibadilika ni lazima Sheria nayo ibadilike.
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 Naye Bwana wetu ambaye mambo hayo yote yanasemwa juu yake, alikuwa wa kabila lingine, na wala hakuna hata mmoja wa kabila lake aliyepata kutumikia madhabahuni akiwa kuhani.
For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14 Inafahamika wazi kwamba yeye alizaliwa katika kabila la Yuda ambalo Mose hakulitaja alipokuwa anasema juu ya makuhani.
For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang from Judah; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
15 Tena jambo hili ni dhahiri zaidi: kuhani mwingine anayefanana na Melkisedeki amekwisha tokea.
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 Yeye hakufanywa kuwa kuhani kwa sheria na maagizo ya kibinadamu, bali kwa nguvu ya uhai ambao hauna mwisho.
Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 Maana Maandiko yasema: “Wewe ni kuhani milele, kufuatana na utaratibu wa ukuhani wa Melkisedeki.” (aiōn )
For he testifieth, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (aiōn )
18 Basi, ile amri ya zamani ilifutwa kwa sababu ilikuwa hafifu na isiyofaa kitu.
For there is verily a disannulling of the preceding commandment on account of its weakness and unprofitableness.
19 Maana Sheria ya Mose haikuweza kukamilisha jambo lolote. Lakini sasa, mahali pake pamewekwa tumaini lililo bora zaidi ambalo kwalo tunaweza kumkaribia Mungu.
For the law made nothing perfect, but the introduction of a better hope [did]; by which we draw nigh to God.
20 Zaidi ya hayo hapa pana kiapo cha Mungu. Wakati wale wengine walipofanywa makuhani hapakuwako kiapo.
And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest]:
21 Lakini Yesu alifanywa kuhani kwa kiapo wakati Mungu alipomwambia: “Bwana ameapa, wala hataigeuza nia yake: Wewe ni kuhani milele.” (aiōn )
(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath, by him that said to him, The Lord swore, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec: ) (aiōn )
22 Basi, kutokana na tofauti hii, Yesu amekuwa mdhamini wa agano lililo bora zaidi.
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 Kuna tofauti nyingine pia: hao makuhani wengine walikuwa wengi kwa sababu walikufa na hawakuweza kuendelea na kazi yao.
And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 Lakini Yesu si kama wao, yeye anaishi milele; ukuhani wake hauondoki kwake. (aiōn )
But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. (aiōn )
25 Hivyo, yeye anaweza daima kuwaokoa kabisa wote wanaomwendea Mungu kwa njia yake, maana yeye anaishi milele kuwaombea kwa Mungu.
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 Basi, Yesu ndiye Kuhani Mkuu ambaye anatufaa sana katika mahitaji yetu. Yeye ni mtakatifu, hana hatia wala dhambi ndani yake; hayumo katika kundi la wenye dhambi na ameinuliwa mpaka juu mbinguni.
For such a high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Yeye si kama wale makuhani wakuu wengine; hana haja ya kutoa dhabihu kila siku, kwanza kwa ajili ya dhambi zake mwenyewe, kisha kwa ajili ya dhambi za watu. Yeye alifanya hivyo mara moja tu wakati alipojitoa yeye mwenyewe, na hiyo yatosha kwa nyakati zote.
Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 Sheria ya Mose huwateua watu waliokuwa dhaifu kuwa makuhani wakuu; lakini ahadi ya Mungu aliyoifanya kwa kiapo na ambayo imefika baada ya sheria imemteua Mwana ambaye amefanywa mkamilifu milele. (aiōn )
For the law maketh men high priests who have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. (aiōn )