¹For this Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who did meet Abraham turning back from the smiting of the kings, and did bless him,

¹Melkisedeki alikuwa mfalme wa Salemu, na kuhani wa Mungu Mkuu. Abrahamu alipokuwa anarudi kutoka vitani ambako aliwaua wafalme, Melkisedeki alikutana naye akambariki,

²to whom also a tenth of all did Abraham divide, (first, indeed, being interpreted, `King of righteousness,` and then also, King of Salem, which is, King of Peace,)

²naye 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.")

³without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, and being made like to the Son of God, doth remain a priest continually.

³Baba 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.

⁴And see how great this one [is], to whom also a tenth Abraham the patriarch did give out of the best of the spoils,

⁴Basi, mwaona jinsi mtu huyu alivyokuwa maarufu. Baba Abrahamu alimpa sehemu moja ya kumi ya vitu vyote alivyoteka vitani.

⁵and those, indeed, out of the sons of Levi receiving the priesthood, a command have to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, their brethren, even though they came forth out of the loins of Abraham;

⁵Tunajua 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.

⁶and he who was not reckoned by genealogy of them, received tithes from Abraham, and him having the promises he hath blessed,

⁶Lakini 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.

⁷and apart from all controversy, the less by the better is blessed —

⁷Hakuna mashaka hata kidogo kwamba anayebariki ni mkuu zaidi kuliko yule anayebarikiwa.

⁸and here, indeed, men who die do receive tithes, and there [he], who is testified to that he was living,

⁸Tena, hao makuhani wanaopokea sehemu ya kumi, ni watu ambao hufa; lakini hapa anayepokea sehemu ya kumi, yaani Melkisedeki, anasemekana kwamba hafi.

⁹and so to speak, through Abraham even Levi who is receiving tithes, hath paid tithes,

⁹Twaweza, basi, kusema kwamba Abrahamu alipotoa sehemu moja ya kumi, Lawi (ambaye watoto wake hupokea sehemu moja ya kumi) alitoa sehemu moja ya kumi pia.

¹⁰for he was yet in the loins of the father when Melchisedek met him.

¹⁰Maana Lawi hakuwa amezaliwa bado, bali ni kama alikuwa katika mwili wa baba yake, Abrahamu, wakati Melkisedeki alipokutana naye.

¹¹If indeed, then, perfection were through the Levitical priesthood — for the people under it had received law — what further need, according to the order of Melchisedek, for another priest to arise, and not to be called according to the order of Aaron?

¹¹Kutokana 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.

¹²for the priesthood being changed, of necessity also, of the law a change doth come,

¹²Maana ukuhani ukibadilika ni lazima Sheria nayo ibadilike.

¹³for he of whom these things are said in another tribe hath had part, of whom no one gave attendance at the altar,

¹³Naye 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.

¹⁴for [it is] evident that out of Judah hath arisen our Lord, in regard to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

¹⁴Inafahamika wazi kwamba yeye alizaliwa katika kabila la Yuda ambalo Mose hakulitaja alipokuwa anasema juu ya makuhani.

¹⁵And it is yet more abundantly most evident, if according to the similitude of Melchisedek there doth arise another priest,

¹⁵Tena jambo hili ni dhahiri zaidi: kuhani mwingine anayefanana na Melkisedeki amekwisha tokea.

¹⁶who came not according to the law of a fleshly command, but according to the power of an endless life,

¹⁶Yeye hakufanywa kuwa kuhani kwa sheria na maagizo ya kibinadamu, bali kwa nguvu ya uhai ambao hauna mwisho.

¹⁷for He doth testify — `Thou [art] a priest — to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;`

¹⁷Maana Maandiko yasema: "Wewe ni kuhani milele, kufuatana na utaratibu wa ukuhani wa Melkisedeki."

¹⁸for a disannulling indeed doth come of the command going before because of its weakness, and unprofitableness,

¹⁸Basi, ile amri ya zamani ilifutwa kwa sababu ilikuwa hafifu na isiyofaa kitu.

¹⁹(for nothing did the law perfect) and the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw nigh to God.

¹⁹Maana Sheria ya Mose haikuweza kukamilisha jambo lolote. Lakini sasa, mahali pake pamewekwa tumaini lililo bora zaidi ambalo kwalo tunaweza kumkaribia Mungu.

²⁰And inasmuch as [it is] not apart from oath, (for those indeed apart from oath are become priests,

²⁰Zaidi ya hayo hapa pana kiapo cha Mungu. Wakati wale wengine walipofanywa makuhani hapakuwako kiapo.

²¹and he with an oath through Him who is saying unto him, `The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest — to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;`)

²¹Lakini Yesu alifanywa kuhani kwa kiapo wakati Mungu alipomwambia: "Bwana ameapa, wala hataigeuza nia yake: Wewe ni kuhani milele."

²²by so much of a better covenant hath Jesus become surety,

²²Basi, kutokana na tofauti hii, Yesu amekuwa mdhamini wa agano lililo bora zaidi.

²³and those indeed are many who have become priests, because by death they are hindered from remaining;

²³Kuna tofauti nyingine pia: hao makuhani wengine walikuwa wengi kwa sababu walikufa na hawakuweza kuendelea na kazi yao.

²⁴and he, because of his remaining — to the age, hath the priesthood not transient,

²⁴Lakini Yesu si kama wao, yeye anaishi milele; ukuhani wake hauondoki kwake.

²⁵whence also he is able to save to the very end, those coming through him unto God — ever living to make intercession for them.

²⁵Hivyo, yeye anaweza daima kuwaokoa kabisa wote wanaomwendea Mungu kwa njia yake, maana yeye anaishi milele kuwaombea kwa Mungu.

²⁶For such a chief priest did become us — kind, harmless, undefiled, separate from the sinners, and become higher than the heavens,

²⁶Basi, 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.

²⁷who hath no necessity daily, as the chief priests, first for his own sins to offer up sacrifice, then for those of the people; for this he did once, having offered up himself;

²⁷Yeye 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.

²⁸for the law doth appoint men chief priests, having infirmity, but the word of the oath that [is] after the law [appointeth] the Son — to the age having been perfected.

²⁸Sheria 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.