Melchizedek the Priest
1Melchizedek was the king of Salem. He was the priest of God Most High. He met Abraham, who was returning from winning a battle over some kings. Melchizedek blessed him. 2Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of what is right.” Also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3Melchizedek has no father or mother. He has no family line. His days have no beginning. His life has no end. He remains a priest forever. In this way, he is like the Son of God.
4Think how great Melchizedek was! Even our father Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had captured. 5Now the law lays down a rule for the sons of Levi who become priests. They must collect a tenth from the people. They must collect it from the other Israelites. They must do this, even though all of them belong to the family line of Abraham. 6Melchizedek did not trace his family line from Levi. But he collected a tenth from Abraham. Melchizedek blessed the one who had received the promises. 7Without a doubt, the more important person blesses the less important one. 8In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die. But in the other case, it is collected by the one who is said to be living. 9Levi collects the tenth. But we might say that Levi paid the tenth through Abraham. 10That’s because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in Abraham’s body.
Jesus Is Like Melchizedek
11The law that was given to the people called for the priestly system. That system began with Levi. Suppose the priestly system could have made people perfect. Then why was there still a need for another priest to come? And why did he need to be like Melchizedek? Why wasn’t he from Aaron’s family line? 12A change of the priestly system requires a change of law. 13We are talking about a priest who is from a different tribe. No one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14It is clear that our Lord came from the family line of Judah. Moses said nothing about priests who were from the tribe of Judah. 15But suppose another priest like Melchizedek appears. Then what we have said is even more clear. 16He has not become a priest because of a rule about his family line. He has become a priest because of his powerful life. His life can never be destroyed. 17Scripture says,
“You are a priest forever,
just like Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4)
18The old rule is set aside. It was weak and useless. 19The law didn’t make anything perfect. Now a better hope has been given to us. That hope brings us near to God.
20The change of priestly system was made with a promise. Others became priests without any promise. 21But Jesus became a priest with a promise. God said to him,
“The Lord has given his word and made a promise.
He will not change his mind. He has said,
‘You are a priest forever.’ ” (Psalm 110:4)
22Because God gave his word, Jesus makes certain the promise of a better covenant.
23There were many priests in Levi’s family line. Death kept them from continuing in office. 24But Jesus lives forever. So he always holds the office of priest. 25People now come to God through him. And he is able to save them completely and for all time. Jesus lives forever. He prays for them.
26A high priest like that really meets our need. He is holy, pure and without blame. He isn’t like other people. He does not sin. He is lifted high above the heavens. 27He isn’t like the other high priests. They need to offer sacrifices day after day. First they bring offerings for their own sins. Then they do it for the sins of the people. But Jesus gave one sacrifice for the sins of the people. He gave it once and for all time. He did it by offering himself. 28The law appoints as high priests men who are weak. But God’s promise came after the law. By his promise the Son was appointed. The Son has been made perfect forever.
Ɔkɛse Melkisedek
1Na saa Melkisedek yi yɛ Salemhene, na ɔsan yɛ Ɔsorosoro Nyankopɔn sɔfo. Bere a Abraham fi ɔko a okum ahemfo ano reba no, Melkisedek hyiaa no hyiraa no. 2Abraham maa no nʼasade no mu nkyɛmu du mu baako. Melkisedek din no nkyerɛase a edi kan no ne Trenee Hene. Esiane sɛ na ɔyɛ Salem hene no nti, wɔkyerɛɛ ne din no ase sɛ Asomdwoe hene. 3Obi nnim Melkisedek agya, ne na, ne ne mpanyimfo ho asɛm. Saa ara na obi nnim nʼawo ne ne wu nso ho asɛm. Ɔsɛ Onyankopɔn Ba, na ɔda so yɛ ɔsɔfo daadaa.
4Eyi di ho adanse sɛ na ɔyɛ onipa kɛse a Agya Abraham mpo tumi ma no nʼasade mu nkyɛmu du mu baako. 5Nanso Lewi asefo a wɔyɛ asɔfo no Mmara na ɛhyɛ wɔn sɛ wonnye nkyɛmu du mu baako mfi wɔn ara wɔn nkurɔfo Israelfo a wɔn nso yɛ Abraham asefo no nkyɛn. 6Melkisedek nyɛ Lewi aseni, nanso ogyee nkyɛmu du mu baako fii Abraham nkyɛn hyiraa no ma onyaa Onyankopɔn bɔhyɛ no. 7Akyinnye biara nni ho sɛ nea ɔma nhyira so sen nea ogye nhyira. 8Wɔde nnipa akatua nkyɛmu du mu baako ma asɔfo a wowu, gye Melkisedek a Kyerɛwsɛm no ka se ɔte ase. 9Enti nokware, Abraham tuaa nkyɛmu du no, Lewi a nʼasefo gye nkyɛmu du no nso nam Abraham so tuaa bi maa Melkisedek. 10Na wɔnwoo Lewi ɛ, nanso esiane sɛ na ɔhyɛ ne nena Abraham mu saa bere no a Melkisedek hyiaa no no nti na otuae.
11Esiane Lewi asɔfodi nti na wɔde Mmara no maa Israelfo. Ɛno nti sɛ Lewifo asɔfodi no tumi de pɛyɛ brɛ nnipa a, anka ho nhia sɛ wɔbɛfa ɔsɔfo foforo bi sɛ Melkisedek a omfi Aaron abusua mu. 12Sɛ ɛba sɛ asɔfodi no sesa a, ɛma ho mmara no nso sesa. 13Nanso yɛn Awurade a wɔka saa asɛm yi nyinaa fa ne ho no fi abusua foforo mu. Ne busuani biara nnii ɔsɔfo wɔ afɔremuka ho da. 14Ɛyɛ sɛnnahɔ sɛ wɔwoo no too Yuda abusua mu, na Mose kaa asɔfo ho asɛm no nso, wammɔ nʼabusua din da. 15Asɛm no da ne ho adi pefee, efisɛ ɔsɔfo foforo bi aba a ɔte sɛ Melkisedek. 16Ɔno de, ɛnnam onipa mmara so na wɔhyɛɛ no ɔsɔfo, na mmom wɔnam nkwa a enni awiei tumi so na ɛyɛɛ no ɔsɔfo. 17Kyerɛwsɛm no ka se,
“Wobɛyɛ ɔsɔfo akosi daa
sɛnea Melkisedek asɔfokwan nhyehyɛe te no.”
18Wɔatow mmara dedaw no akyene, efisɛ sintɔ bi wɔ mmara no mu, na so nni mfaso nso, 19efisɛ Mose Mmara no antumi amma biribiara anni mu, na wɔde anidaso pa bi a yɛnam so bɛn Onyankopɔn aba.
20Na wɔanyɛ a ntanka nka ho. Bere a ɔhyɛɛ Aaron asefo asɔfo no, na ntam a ɛte saa nni hɔ. 21Yesu de, ɔnam ntam so bɛyɛɛ ɔsɔfo bere a Onyankopɔn ka kyerɛɛ no se,
“Awurade aka ntam;
na ɔrensesa nʼadwene a ese,
‘Wobɛyɛ ɔsɔfo daa nyinaa no.’ ”
22Saa ntam yi nti, Yesu gyina mu ma yɛn, na ɛma yɛne Onyankopɔn apam no di mu.
23Nsonoe foforo bi nso wɔ hɔ. Na saa asɔfo no dɔɔso, efisɛ na wowuwu a wontumi ntoa wɔn adwuma so. 24Nanso esiane sɛ Yesu wɔ hɔ daa no nti, ɔwɔ asɔfodi a ɛtena hɔ daa. 25Enti otumi gye wɔn a wɔnam ne so ba Onyankopɔn nkyɛn no nnɛ ne daa, efisɛ, ɔte hɔ daa srɛ Onyankopɔn ma wɔn.
26Yesu ne Ɔsɔfopanyin a ɔboa yɛn wɔ yɛn ahiasɛm mu. Ɔyɛ kronkron. Onni mfomso biara wɔ ne mu, na ɔnyɛ bɔne. Wɔatew no afi nnebɔneyɛfo ho na wɔama no so aboro ɔsoro so. 27Ɔnte sɛ asɔfo mpanyin a wɔaka no a, daa afɔre a wɔbɔ no kan no wɔbɔ wɔ wɔn bɔne a wayɛ ho ansa na afei, wabɔ afoforo de no. Ɔbɔɔ afɔre baako pɛ a ɔde ne ho na ɛbɔe. 28Mose Mmara no yi nnipa a wɔmfata sɛ wɔyɛ asɔfo mpanyin, nanso Onyankopɔn bɔ a ɔde ntam kaa ho no a ɛbaa wɔ Mmara no akyi no yii Ɔba no a ɔyɛ pɛ daa nyinaa no.
