Hebrews 9

1 The first therefore also indeed had ordinances of service, and the sanctuary, a worldly one.

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

2 For a tabernacle was set up; the first, in which [were] both the candlestick and the table and the exposition of the loaves, which is called Holy;

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 but after the second veil a tabernacle which is called Holy of holies,

Behind the second veil was a room called the Holy of Holies.

4 having a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant, covered round in every part with gold, in which [were] the golden pot that had the manna, and the rod of Aaron that had sprouted, and the tables 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 over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy-seat; concerning which it is not now [the time] to speak 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 being thus ordered, into the first tabernacle the priests enter at all times, 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 only, once a 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 shewing this, that the way of the [holy of] holies has not yet been made manifest while as yet the first tabernacle has [its] 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 the which [is] an image for the present time, according to which both gifts and sacrifices, unable to perfect as to conscience him that worshipped, are offered,

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

10 [consisting] only of meats and drinks and divers washings, ordinances of flesh, imposed until [the] time of setting things right.

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

11 But Christ being come high priest of the good things to come, by the better and more perfect tabernacle not made with hand, (that is, 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 by blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, has entered in once for all into the [holy of] holies, having found an eternal redemption. (aiōnios g166)

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 a heifer's ashes sprinkling the defiled, sanctifies for the purity 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 rather shall the blood of the Christ, who by the eternal Spirit offered himself spotless to God, purify your conscience from dead works to worship [the] living God? (aiōnios g166)

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 And for this reason he is mediator of a new covenant, so that, death having taken place for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (aiōnios g166)

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 [there is] a testament, the death of the testator must needs come in.

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

17 For a testament [is] of force when men are dead, since it is in no way of force while the testator is alive.)

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 Whence neither the first was inaugurated without blood.

That is why even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood.

19 For every commandment having been spoken according to [the] law by Moses to all the people; having taken the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, he 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 enjoined to you.

saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you.”

21 And the tabernacle too and all the vessels of service he sprinkled in like manner with blood;

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

22 and almost all things are purified with blood according to the law, and without blood-shedding 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 then that the figurative representations of the things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with sacrifices better 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 the Christ is not entered into holy places made with hand, figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face 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 in order that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy places every 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 since he had [then] been obliged often to suffer from the foundation of the world. But now once in the consummation of the ages he has been manifested for [the] putting away of sin by his sacrifice. (aiōn g165)

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 And forasmuch as it is the portion of men once to die, and after this judgment;

And just as it is appointed for men to die once and then face judgment,

28 thus the Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear to those that look for him the second time without sin for salvation.

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.