1
Kwa maana Melkizedeki huyo, mfalme wa Salemu, kuhani wa Mungu aliye juu, aliyekutana na Ibrahimu alipokuwa akirudi katika kuwapiga hao wafalme, akambariki;
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
ambaye Ibrahimu alimgawia sehemu ya kumi ya vitu vyote; (tafsiri ya jina lake kwanza ni mfalme wa haki, tena, mfalme wa Salemu, maana yake, 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, hana mama, hana wazazi, hana mwanzo wa siku zake, wala mwisho wa uhai wake, bali amefananishwa na Mwana wa Mungu); huyo adumu 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
Basi, angalieni jinsi mtu huyo alivyokuwa mkuu, ambaye Ibrahimu, baba yetu mkuu, alimpa sehemu ya kumi ya nyara.
Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.
5
Na katika wana wa Lawi nao, wale waupatao ukuhani, wana amri kutwaa sehemu ya kumi kwa watu wao, yaani, ndugu zao, kwa agizo la sheria, ijapokuwa wametoka katika viuno vya Ibrahimu.
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
Bali yeye, ambaye uzazi wake haukuhesabiwa kuwa umetoka kwa hao, alitwaa sehemu ya kumi kwa Ibrahimu, akambariki yeye aliye na ile 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 haikanushiki kabisa kwamba mdogo hubarikiwa na mkubwa.
And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8
Na hapa wanadamu wapatikanao na kufa hutwaa sehemu ya kumi; bali huko yeye ashuhudiwaye kwamba 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
Tena yaweza kusemwa ya kuwa, kwa njia ya Ibrahimu, hata Lawi apokeaye sehemu ya kumi alitoa sehemu ya kumi;
And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.
10
kwa maana alikuwa katika viuno vya baba yake, hapo Melkizedeki alipokutana naye.
For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.
11
Basi, kama ukamilifu ulikuwapo kwa ukuhani wa Lawi; (maana watu wale waliipata sheria kwa huo); kulikuwa na haja gani tena ya kuhani mwingine ainuke, kwa mfano wa Melkizedeki, wala asihesabiwe kwa mfano wa Haruni?
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
Maana ukuhani ule ukibadilika, hapana budi sheria nayo ibadilike.
For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.
13
Maana yeye aliyenenwa hayo alikuwa mshirika wa kabila nyingine, ambayo hapana mtu wa kabila hiyo aliyeihudumia madhabahu.
He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
14
Maana ni dhahiri kwamba Bwana wetu alitoka katika Yuda, kabila ambayo Musa hakunena neno lo lote juu yake katika mambo ya ukuhani.
For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.
15
Tena hayo tusemayo ni dhahiri sana zaidi, ikiwa ametokea kuhani mwingine mithili ya Melkizedeki;
And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,
16
asiyekuwa kuhani kwa sheria ya amri iliyo ya jinsi ya mwili, bali kwa nguvu za uzima usio na ukomo;
one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.
17
maana ameshuhudiwa kwamba, Wewe u kuhani milele Kwa mfano wa Melkizedeki.
For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
18
Maana, kuna kubatiliwa kwa ile amri iliyotangulia, kwa sababu ya udhaifu wake, na kutokufaa kwake;
So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless
19
(kwa maana ile sheria haikukamilisha neno); na pamoja na hayo kuliingizwa matumaini yaliyo mazuri zaidi, ambayo kwa hayo twamkaribia Mungu.
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20
Na kwa kuwa haikuwa pasipo kiapo,
And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,
21
(maana wale walifanywa makuhani pasipo kiapo; bali yeye, pamoja na kiapo, kwa yeye aliyemwambia, Bwana ameapa wala hataghairi, Wewe u kuhani wa milele;)
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.’”
22
basi kwa kadiri hii Yesu amekuwa mdhamini wa agano lililo bora zaidi.
Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23
Tena wale walifanywa makuhani wengi, kwa sababu wazuiliwa na mauti wasikae;
Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.
24
bali yeye, kwa kuwa akaa milele, anao ukuhani wake usioondoka.
But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.
25
Naye, kwa sababu hii, aweza kuwaokoa kabisa wao wamjiao Mungu kwa yeye; maana yu hai sikuzote ili awaombee.
Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
26
Maana ilitupasa sisi tuwe na kuhani mkuu wa namna hii aliye mtakatifu, asiyekuwa na uovu, asiyekuwa na waa lo lote, aliyetengwa na wakosaji, aliyekuwa juu kuliko mbingu;
Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27
ambaye hana haja kila siku, mfano wa wale makuhani wakuu wengine, kwanza kutoa dhabihu kwa ajili ya dhambi zake mwenyewe, kisha kwa ajili ya dhambi za hao watu; maana yeye alifanya hivi mara moja, alipojitoa nafsi yake.
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
Maana torati yawaweka wanadamu walio na unyonge kuwa makuhani wakuu; bali hilo neno la kiapo kilichokuja baada ya torati limemweka Mwana, aliyekamilika hata milele.
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.