Hebrews 9

1 It is true that even the first Covenant had its regulations for divine worship, and its Sanctuary — though only a material one.

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

2 For a Tabernacle was constructed, with an outer part which contained the stand for the lamps, and the table, and the consecrated bread. This is called the Sanctuary.

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

3 The part of the Tabernacle behind the second Curtain is called the Inner Sanctuary.

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

4 In it is the gold incense-altar, and the Ark containing the Covenant, completely covered with gold. In the Ark is a gold casket containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets on which the Covenant was written;

having a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;

5 while above it, and overshadowing the Cover on which atonement was made, are the Cherubim of the Presence. But I must not now dwell on these things in detail.

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

6 Such, then, was the arrangement of the Tabernacle. Into the outer part priests are constantly going, in the discharge of their sacred duties;

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

7 but into the inner only the High Priest goes, and that but once a year, and never without taking the blood of a victim, which he offers on his own behalf, and on behalf of the errors 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 By this the Holy Spirit is teaching that the way into the Sanctuary was hidden, as long as the outer part of the Tabernacle still remained.

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

9 For that was only a type, to continue down to the present time; and, in keeping with it, both gifts and sacrifices are offered, though incapable of satisfying the conscience of the worshiper;

which 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 the whole system being concerned only with food and drink and various ablutions — external ceremonials imposed until the coming of the New Order.

but deal only with foods and drinks and various washings; they are regulations for the flesh imposed until the time of setting things right.

11 But, when Christ came, he appeared as High Priest of that Better System which was established; and he entered through that nobler and more perfect ‘Tabernacle,’ not made by human hands — that is to say, not a part of this present creation.

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

12 Nor was it with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, that he entered, once and for all, into the Sanctuary, and obtained our eternal deliverance. (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 everlasting redemption. (aiōnios g166)

13 For, if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, purify those who have been defiled (as far as ceremonial purification goes),

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 more will the blood of the Christ, who, through his eternal Spirit, offered himself up to God, as a victim without blemish, purify our consciences from a lifeless formality, and fit us for the service of the Living God! (aiōnios g166)

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

15 And that is why he is the intermediary of a new Covenant; in order that, as a death has taken place to effect a deliverance from the offences committed under the first Covenant, those who have received the Call may obtain the eternal inheritance promised to them. (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 everlasting inheritance. (aiōnios g166)

16 Whenever such a Covenant as a will is in question, the death of the testator must of necessity be alleged.

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

17 For such a Covenant takes effect only upon death, it does not come into force as long as the testator is alive.

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

18 This explains why even the first Covenant was not ratified without the shedding of blood.

Therefore even the first has not been dedicated without blood.

19 For, when every command had been announced to all the people by Moses in accordance with the Law, he took the blood of the calves and of the goats, with water, scarlet wool, and a bunch of hyssop, and sprinkled even the Book of the Law, as well as all the people,

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 scroll itself and all the people,

20 saying, as he did so — “This is the blood that renders valid the Covenant which God has commanded to be made with you.”

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

21 And in the same way he also sprinkled with the blood the Tabernacle and all the things that were used in public worship.

Moreover he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry in like manner with the blood.

22 Indeed, under the Law, almost everything is purified with blood; and, unless blood is shed, no forgiveness is to be obtained.

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

23 While, then, it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly realities to be purified by such means as these, the heavenly realities themselves required better sacrifices.

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 it was not into a Sanctuary made by human hands, which merely foreshadowed the true one, that Christ entered, but into Heaven itself, that he might now appear in the presence of God on 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 was it to offer himself may times, as year after year the High Priest entered the Sanctuary with an offering of blood — but not his own 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 for then Christ would have had to undergo death many times since the creation of the world. But now, once and for all, at the close of the age, he has appeared, in order to abolish sin by the sacrifice of himself. (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, as it is ordained for men to die but once (death being followed by judgment),

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

28 so it is with the Christ. He was offered up once and for all, to ‘bear away the sins of many’; and the second time he will appear — but without any burden of sin — to those who are waiting for him, to bring Salvation.

so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation.