Hebrews 9

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

Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an 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.

For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first room were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the Presence; this is called the Holy Place.

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

Behind the second veil was a room 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;

It had a golden censer and the ark of the covenant, which was overlaid on all sides with gold. In the ark were the golden jar containing the manna, the rod of Aaron that had budded, and the tablets of the covenant.

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

Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

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

When these things were all in place, the priests regularly entered the first room of the tabernacle, performing their sacred duties.

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 room, the high priest alone entered only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.

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

By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the holy places had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.

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,

This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,

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

but deal only with food and drink, and various washings and regulations for the flesh, imposed until the time of reformation.

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 when Christ came as high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands (that is, 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 consummate (aiōnios g166) redemption.

he entered once for all into the holy places, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. (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 sprinkled on those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,

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

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your consciences 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 consummate (aiōnios g166) inheritance.

That is why he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed 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.

For in the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it,

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 takes effect only after the person's death; it is never in force while the person who made it is alive.

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

That is why even the first covenant was not 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,

For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled 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 that God has ordained for you.”

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

In the same way, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship.

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

Indeed, according to the law nearly everything is purified with blood, and without the 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 it was necessary for the copies of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, but for the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these.

24 For Christ has not 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 holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true ones; he entered heaven itself, so that he might now appear before God 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,

Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the holy places year after year with blood that is not his own,

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

for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. (aiōn g165)

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

And just as it is appointed for men to die once and then face 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 also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for him.