Hebrews 9

1 [Even] the first, indeed, therefore, used to have righteous appointments of divine service, even the holy ritual well arranged.

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

2 For a tent was prepared, the first, in which were both the lampstand and the table and the setting forth of the loaves, —the which is called the Holy place;

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.

3 But, after the second veil, a tent, that which is called Most Holy:

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

4 Having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant covered around on every side with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and the rod of Aaron that sprouted, and the tables of the covenant;

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;

5 But, over-above it, Cherubim of glory overshadowing the propitiatory: —concerning which things, it is not now [needful] to be speaking, particularly.

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

6 Now, these things having been thus prepared, into the first tent, indeed, continually do the priests enter, the divine services completing;

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

7 But, into the second, once for all in the year, only the high-priest, not without blood, which he offered for himself and the ignorances of the people:

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.

8 The Holy Spirit making this evident—that, not yet, hath been manifested, the way through the Holy place, so long as the first tent hath a standing.

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

9 The which is a similitude for the present season, according to which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, which cannot, as to the conscience, perfect him that rendereth the divine service: —

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

10 Only as to eatings, and drinkings, and diversified immersions, —righteous-appointments of the flesh, which, until a season of rectifying, are in force.

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

11 But, when Christ approached, as high-priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tent, not made by hand, that is, not of this creation, —

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,

12 Nor yet through blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood he entered once for all into the Holy place, age-abiding redemption discovering. (aiōnios g166)

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)

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the profaned, halloweth unto the purity of the flesh,

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,

14 How much rather shall the blood of the Christ, who through an age-abiding spirit offered himself unspotted unto God, purify our conscience from dead works, to the rendering of divine-service, unto a Living God? (aiōnios g166)

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)

15 And, for this cause, of a new covenant, is he mediator, —to the end that, death coming to pass for the redemption of the transgressions against the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the age-abiding inheritance; (aiōnios g166)

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)

16 For, where a covenant is, it is necessary for, the death, to be brought in, of him that hath covenanted;

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

17 For, a covenant over dead persons, is firm, —since it is not then of force when he is living that hath covenanted.

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

18 Whence, not even the first, apart from blood, hath been consecrated;

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

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

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,

20 Saying—This, is the blood of the covenant which, God, hath sent in command unto you:

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

21 Yea, the tent also, and all the utensils of the public ministry, with blood, in like manner, he sprinkled:

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

22 And, nearly, all things, with blood, are purified, according to the law, and, apart from blood-shedding, cometh no remission.

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

23 It was indeed therefore necessary for the glimpses of the things in the heavens with these to be purified; but, the heavenly things themselves, with better sacrifices than these.

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.

24 For, not into a Holy place made by hand, entered Christ, —counterpart of the real [Holy place]; but, into the heaven itself, now, to be plainly manifested before the face of God in our behalf; —

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;

25 Nor yet that, ofttimes, he should be offering himself, —just as the high-priest entereth into the Holy place, year by year, with alien blood; —

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,

26 Else had it been needful for him, ofttimes, to suffer, from the foundation of the world; but, now, once for all, upon a conjunction of the ages, for a setting aside of sin through means of his sacrifice, hath he been made manifest; (aiōn g165)

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)

27 And, inasmuch as it is in store for men—once for all to die, but after this, judgment,

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

28 Thus, the Christ also, once for all having been offered, for the bearing of the sins, of many, a second time, apart from sin, will appear, to them who for him are ardently waiting—unto salvation.

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.