Hebrews 10
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
The law is just a shadow of the good that was to come, and not the actual reality. So it can never through the repeated sacrifices offered year after year make right those who come to worship God.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Otherwise wouldn't the sacrifices have stopped being offered? If the worshipers had been made clean once and for all, they wouldn't have had guilty consciences any longer.
3 But in those [sacrifices there is] a remembrance again [made] of sins every year.
But in fact those sacrifices remind people of sins year after year,
4 For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
because it's impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to remove sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
That's why when Christ came into the world he said, “You didn't want sacrifices or offerings, but you did prepare a body for me.
6 In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin gave you no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me, ) to do thy will, O God.
Then I said, ‘God, see I've come to do what you want me to do, just as it says about me in the book.’”
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the law;
As mentioned above, “You didn't want sacrifices or offerings, and burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin gave you no pleasure,” (even though they are offered in accordance with the law's requirements).
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Then he said, “See, I've come to do what you want.” He gets rid of the first agreement so he can set up the second,
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all].
through which we all are made holy through Jesus Christ offering his body once and for all time.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Every priest officiates in the services day after day, again and again offering the same sacrifices that can never remove sins.
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
But this Priest, after he had offered for sins a single sacrifice that lasts forever, sat down at God's right hand.
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Now he waits until all his enemies are conquered, becoming like a footstool for him.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
For by a single sacrifice he has set right forever those who are being made holy.
15 [Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
As the Holy Spirit also tells us, for having said,
16 This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
“This is the agreement that I will make with them later on, says the Lord. I will put my laws inside them, and I will write them in their minds.” Then he adds,
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
“I won't remember their sins and lawlessness anymore.”
18 Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin.
Once free from such things, sin offerings are no longer needed.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Now we have the confidence, brothers and sisters, to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Through his life and death, he opened up a brand-new, living way through the veil to God.
21 And [having] an high priest over the house of God;
Since we have such a great priest placed in charge over the house of God,
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
let us come close to God with sincere minds, totally trusting in him. Our minds have been sprinkled to purify them from our evil way of thinking, and our bodies have been washed clean by pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised; )
So let us hold onto the hope we're telling others about, never hesitating, for God who promised is trustworthy.
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Let's think about how we can motivate one another to love and to do what is good.
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
We should not give up meeting together, as some have done. In fact we should be encouraging one another, especially as you see the End approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
For if we deliberately go on sinning after we've understood the truth, there's no longer any sacrifice for sins.
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
All that's left is fear, expecting the impending judgment and the terrible fire that destroys those who are hostile to God.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Someone who rejects the law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
How much worse do you think someone will deserve their punishment if they have trampled underfoot the Son of God, if they have disregarded the blood that sealed the agreement and makes us holy, treating it as ordinary and trivial, and have abused the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance [belongeth] unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
We know God, and he said, “I will make sure that justice is done; I will give people what they deserve.” He also said, “The Lord will judge his people.”
31 [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
It's terrifying to come under the power of the living God.
32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
Just remember the past when, after you understood the truth, you experienced a great deal of suffering.
33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
Sometimes you were made a spectacle of, being insulted and attacked; at other times you stood in solidarity with those who were suffering.
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
You showed your sympathy for those in prison, and took it cheerfully when your possessions were confiscated, knowing that you have something better coming that will truly last.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
So don't lose your confidence in God—it will be richly rewarded.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
You need to be patient so that having done what God wants, you'll receive what he has promised.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
“In just a little while he will come, as he said—he won't delay.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Those who do what is right will live by trusting in God, and if they draw back from their commitment, I won't be pleased with them.”
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
But we're not the kind of people who draw back and end up being lost. We are those who trust in God to save us.
