Capitulum autem super ea quæ dicuntur: Talem habemus pontificem, qui consedit in dextera sedis magnitudinis in cælis,

And here we come to the very pith of our argument. This high priest of ours is one who has taken his seat in heaven, on the right hand of that throne where God sits in majesty,

Now of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of majesty in the heavens,

sanctorum minister, et tabernaculi veri, quod fixit Dominus, et non homo.

ministering, now, in the sanctuary, in that true tabernacle which the Lord, not man, has set up.

A minister of the holies, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord hath pitched, and not man.

Omnis enim pontifex ad offerendum munera, et hostias constituitur: unde necesse est et hunc habere aliquid, quod offerat.

After all, if it is the very function of a priest to offer gift and sacrifice, he too must needs have an offering to make.

For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is necessary that he also should have some thing to offer.

Si ergo esset super terram, nec esset sacerdos: cum essent qui offerent secundum legem munera,

Whereas, if he were still on earth, he would be no priest at all; there are priests already, to offer the gifts which the law demands,

If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest: seeing that there would be others to offer gifts according to the law,

qui exemplari, et umbræ deserviunt cælestium. Sicut responsum est Moysi, cum consummaret tabernaculum: Vide (inquit) omnia facito secundum exemplar, quod tibi ostensum est in monte.

men who devote their service to the type and the shadow of what has its true being in heaven. (That is why Moses, when he was building the tabernacle, received the warning, Be sure to make everything in accordance with the pattern that was shewn to thee on the mountain.)

Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things. As it was answered to Moses, when he was to finish the tabernacle: See (saith he) that thou make all things according to the pattern which was shewn thee on the mount.

Nunc autem melius sortitus est ministerium, quanto et melioris testamenti mediator est, quod in melioribus repromissionibus sancitum est.

As it is, he has been entrusted with a more honourable ministry, dispenser as he is of a nobler covenant, with nobler promises for its sanction.

But now he hath obtained a better ministry, by how much also he is a mediator of a better testament, which is established on better promises.

Nam si illud prius culpa vacasset, non utique secundi locus inquireretur.

There would have been no room for this second covenant, if there had been no fault to find with the first.

For if that former had been faultless, there should not indeed a place have been sought for a second.

Vituperans enim eos dicit: Ecce dies venient, dicit Dominus: et consummabo super domum Israël, et super domum Juda, testamentum novum,

But God, you see, does find fault; this is what he tells them: Behold, says the Lord, a time is coming when I will ratify a new covenant with the people of Israel, and with the people of Juda.

For finding fault with them, he saith: Behold, the days shall come, saith the Lord: and I will perfect unto the house of Israel, and unto the house of Juda, a new testament:

non secundum testamentum quod feci patribus eorum in die qua apprehendi manum eorum ut educerem illos de terra Ægypti: quoniam ipsi non permanserunt in testamento meo: et ego neglexi eos, dicit Dominus.

It will not be like the covenant which I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand, to rescue them from Egypt; that they should break my covenant, and I (says the Lord) should abandon them.

Not according to the testament which I made to their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt: because they continued not in my testament: and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

Quia hoc est testamentum quod disponam domui Israël post dies illos, dicit Dominus: dando leges meas in mentem eorum, et in corde eorum superscribam eas: et ero eis in Deum, et ipsi erunt mihi in populum:

No, this is the covenant I will grant the people of Israel, the Lord says, when that time comes. I will implant my law in their innermost thoughts, engrave it in their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

For this is the testament which I will make to the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will give my laws into their mind, and in their heart will I write them: and I will be their God, and they shall be my people:

et non docebit unusquisque proximum suum, et unusquisque fratrem suum, dicens: Cognosce Dominum: quoniam omnes scient me a minore usque ad majorem eorum:

There will be no need for neighbour to teach neighbour, or brother to teach brother, the knowledge of the Lord; all will know me, from the highest to the lowest.

And they shall not teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me from the least to the greatest of them:

quia propitius ero iniquitatibus eorum, et peccatorum eorum jam non memorabor.

I will pardon their wrong-doing; I will not remember their sins any more.

Because I will be merciful to their iniquities, and their sins I will remember no more.

Dicendo autem novum: veteravit prius. Quod autem antiquatur, et senescit, prope interitum est.

In speaking of a new covenant, he has superannuated the old. And before long the superannuated, the antiquated, must needs disappear.

Now in saying a new, he hath made the former old. And that which decayeth and groweth old, is near its end.