The Latin Vulgate VUL
Good News Translation GNT
1 hic enim Melchisedech rex Salem sacerdos Dei summi qui obviavit Abrahae regresso a caede regum et benedixit ei
1
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and a priest of the Most High God. As Abraham was coming back from the battle in which he defeated the four kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him,
2 cui decimas omnium divisit Abraham primum quidem qui interpretatur rex iustitiae deinde autem et rex Salem quod est rex pacis
2
and Abraham gave him one tenth of all he had taken. (The first meaning of Melchizedek's name is "King of Righteousness"; and because he was king of Salem, his name also means "King of Peace.")
3 sine patre sine matre sine genealogia neque initium dierum neque finem vitae habens adsimilatus autem Filio Dei manet sacerdos in perpetuum
3
There is no record of Melchizedek's father or mother or of any of his ancestors; no record of his birth or of his death. He is like the Son of God; he remains a priest forever.
4 intuemini autem quantus sit hic cui et decimam dedit de praecipuis Abraham patriarcha
4
You see, then, how great he was. Abraham, our famous ancestor, gave him one tenth of all he got in the battle.
5 et quidem de filiis Levi sacerdotium accipientes mandatum habent decimas sumere a populo secundum legem id est a fratribus suis quamquam et ipsi exierunt de lumbis Abrahae
5
And those descendants of Levi who are priests are commanded by the Law to collect one tenth from the people of Israel, that is, from their own people, even though they are also descendants of Abraham.
6 cuius autem generatio non adnumeratur in eis decimas sumpsit Abraham et hunc qui habebat repromissiones benedixit
6
Melchizedek was not descended from Levi, but he collected one tenth from Abraham and blessed him, the man who received God's promises.
7 sine ulla autem contradictione quod minus est a meliore benedicitur
7
There is no doubt that the one who blesses is greater than the one who is blessed.
8 et hic quidem decimas morientes homines accipiunt ibi autem contestatus quia vivit
8
In the case of the priests the tenth is collected by men who die; but as for Melchizedek the tenth was collected by one who lives, as the scripture says.
9 et ut ita dictum sit per Abraham et Levi qui decimas accipit decimatus est
9
And, so to speak, when Abraham paid the tenth, Levi (whose descendants collect the tenth) also paid it.
10 adhuc enim in lumbis patris erat quando obviavit ei Melchisedech
10
For Levi had not yet been born, but was, so to speak, in the body of his ancestor Abraham when Melchizedek met him.
11 si ergo consummatio per sacerdotium leviticum erat populus enim sub ipso legem accepit quid adhuc necessarium secundum ordinem Melchisedech alium surgere sacerdotem et non secundum ordinem Aaron dici
11
It was on the basis of the levitical priesthood that the Law was given to the people of Israel. Now, if the work of the levitical priests had been perfect, there would have been no need for a different kind of priest to appear, one who is in the priestly order of Melchizedek, not of Aaron.
12 translato enim sacerdotio necesse est ut et legis translatio fiat
12
For when the priesthood is changed, there also has to be a change in the law.
13 in quo enim haec dicuntur de alia tribu est de qua nullus altario praesto fuit
13
And our Lord, of whom these things are said, belonged to a different tribe, and no member of his tribe ever served as a priest.
14 manifestum enim quod ex Iuda ortus sit Dominus noster in qua tribu nihil de sacerdotibus Moses locutus est
14
It is well known that he was born a member of the tribe of Judah; and Moses did not mention this tribe when he spoke of priests.
15 et amplius adhuc manifestum est si secundum similitudinem Melchisedech exsurgit alius sacerdos
15
The matter becomes even plainer; a different priest has appeared, who is like Melchizedek.
16 qui non secundum legem mandati carnalis factus est sed secundum virtutem vitae insolubilis
16
He was made a priest, not by human rules and regulations, but through the power of a life which has no end.
17 contestatur enim quoniam tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech
17
For the scripture says, "You will be a priest forever, in the priestly order of Melchizedek."
18 reprobatio quidem fit praecedentis mandati propter infirmitatem eius et inutilitatem
18
The old rule, then, is set aside, because it was weak and useless.
19 nihil enim ad perfectum adduxit lex introductio vero melioris spei per quam proximamus ad Deum
19
For the Law of Moses could not make anything perfect. And now a better hope has been provided through which we come near to God.
20 et quantum est non sine iureiurando alii quidem sine iureiurando sacerdotes facti sunt
20
In addition, there is also God's vow. There was no such vow when the others were made priests.
21 hic autem cum iureiurando per eum qui dixit ad illum iuravit Dominus et non paenitebit tu es sacerdos in aeternum
21
But Jesus became a priest by means of a vow when God said to him, "The Lord has made a solemn promise and will not take it back: "You will be a priest forever.' "
22 in tantum melioris testamenti sponsor factus est Iesus
22
This difference, then, also makes Jesus the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 et alii quidem plures facti sunt sacerdotes idcirco quod morte prohiberentur permanere
23
There is another difference: there were many of those other priests, because they died and could not continue their work.
24 hic autem eo quod maneat in aeternum sempiternum habet sacerdotium
24
But Jesus lives on forever, and his work as priest does not pass on to someone else.
25 unde et salvare in perpetuo potest accedentes per semet ipsum ad Deum semper vivens ad interpellandum pro eis
25
And so he is able, now and always, to save those who come to God through him, because he lives forever to plead with God for them.
26 talis enim decebat ut nobis esset pontifex sanctus innocens inpollutus segregatus a peccatoribus et excelsior caelis factus
26
Jesus, then, is the High Priest that meets our needs. He is holy; he has no fault or sin in him; he has been set apart from sinners and raised above the heavens.
27 qui non habet cotidie necessitatem quemadmodum sacerdotes prius pro suis delictis hostias offerre deinde pro populi hoc enim fecit semel se offerendo
27
He is not like other high priests; he does not need to offer sacrifices every day for his own sins first and then for the sins of the people. He offered one sacrifice, once and for all, when he offered himself.
28 lex enim homines constituit sacerdotes infirmitatem habentes sermo autem iurisiurandi qui post legem est Filium in aeternum perfectum
28
The Law of Moses appoints men who are imperfect to be high priests; but God's promise made with the vow, which came later than the Law, appoints the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.