Hebrews 9

1 Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and an earthly sanctuary.

Now that first covenant did indeed have regulations for divine service and the earthly sanctuary.

2 For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first part were the lamp stand, the table, and the show bread, which is called the Holy Place.

Yes, a tabernacle was set up: the first part, which is called the Holy Place, in which were the lamp stand, the table and the showbread;

3 After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,

and behind the second curtain an area called the Holy of Holies,

4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;

having a golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold—in it were a golden jar holding the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant;

5 and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we can’t speak now in detail.

while above it were cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat (this is not the place to go into detail about them).

6 Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services,

Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests continually went into the first part, performing the divine services,

7 but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.

but into the second one only the high priest could go, once a year and only with blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins of ignorance;

8 The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing.

the Holy Spirit was making clear that the way into the Most Holy Place was not yet open to the public while the first tabernacle was still in existence.

9 This is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshiper perfect,

It was a figure during the time then present, a time when both gifts and sacrifices were being offered that were incapable of clearing the conscience of the worshiper—

10 being only (with foods and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.

they were only about foods and drinks and various ceremonial washings and physical regulations, things imposed until the time of restructuring.

11 But Christ having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,

But Christ entered once for all into the real Holy Places, having obtained eternal redemption—He had come as High Priest of the good things that are about to be, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,

12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. (aiōnios g166)

and with His own blood, not that of goats and calves. (aiōnios g166)

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh,

For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who had been ceremonially defiled, restored ceremonial purity to the body,

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (aiōnios g166)

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the Holy Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (aiōnios g166)

15 For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (aiōnios g166)

For this reason He is mediator of a new covenant, so that those who have been called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant. (aiōnios g166)

16 For where a last will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it.

Now where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be established;

17 For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives.

because a will is in force after men are dead, since it never takes effect while the one who made it lives.

18 Therefore even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood.

Therefore, not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood;

19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,

because when every commandment of the Law had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people,

20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.”

saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has decreed to you.”

21 He sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry in the same way with the blood.

Then he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the divine service with the blood in the same way.

22 According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.

In fact, according to the Law nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

23 It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

So then, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with such, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than those.

24 For Christ hasn’t entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

For Christ did not enter into Holy Places made by hands, mere copies of the true ones, but into Heaven itself, now to appear in God's presence on our behalf;

25 nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his own,

but not in order to offer Himself repeatedly, like the high priest who entered the Most Holy Place year by year with another's blood

26 or else he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the ages, he has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (aiōn g165)

—otherwise He would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world; but now, once for all at the end of the ages, He has been revealed to nullify sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (aiōn g165)

27 Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment,

Also, inasmuch as men are destined to die but once, after which the judgment,

28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

so the Christ also, having been offered once for all to bear the sins of many—He will appear a second time to those who are eagerly waiting for Him, apart from sin, into salvation.