Hebrews 9

1 It had, indeed, then (even the first tabernacle) ordinances of service, also a worldly sanctuary,

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

2 for a tabernacle was prepared, the first, in which was both the lamp-stand, and the table, and the bread of the presence — which is called 'Holy;'

For a tabernacle was prepared. The first room, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the presence, was called the holy place.

3 and after the second vail a tabernacle that is called 'Holy of holies,'

Behind the second curtain was another room, called the most holy place.

4 having a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid all round about with gold, in which [is] the golden pot having the manna, and the rod of Aaron that budded, and the tables of the covenant,

It had a golden altar for incense. It also had the ark of the covenant, which was completely overlaid with gold. Inside it was a golden jar holding the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.

5 and over it cherubim of the glory, overshadowing the mercy-seat, concerning which we are not now to speak particularly.

Above the ark of the covenant, glorious cherubim overshadowed the atonement lid, which we cannot now talk about in detail.

6 And these things having been thus prepared, into the first tabernacle, indeed, at all times the priests do go in, performing the services,

After these things were prepared, the priests always entered the outer room of the tabernacle to perform their services.

7 and into the second, once in the year, only the chief priest, not apart from blood, which he doth offer for himself and the errors of the people,

But only the high priest entered the second room once each year, and not without blood that he offered for himself and for the people's unintentional sins.

8 the Holy Spirit this evidencing that not yet hath been manifested the way of the holy [places], the first tabernacle having yet a standing;

The Holy Spirit showed that the way into the most holy place had not yet appeared as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.

9 which [is] a simile in regard to the present time, in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, which are not able, in regard to conscience, to make perfect him who is serving,

This was an illustration for the present time. Both the gifts and sacrifices that are now being offered are not able to perfect the worshiper's conscience.

10 only in victuals, and drinks, and different baptisms, and fleshly ordinances — till the time of reformation imposed upon [them].

They are only concerned with food and drink and various ceremonial washings, regulations for the body until the time of the new order.

11 And Christ being come, chief priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands — that is, not of this creation —

Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come. He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that was not made by human hands, one not belonging to this created world.

12 neither through blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, did enter in once into the holy places, age-during redemption having obtained; (aiōnios g166)

It was not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood that he entered into the most holy place once for all and secured our eternal redemption. (aiōnios g166)

13 for if the blood of bulls, and goats, and ashes of an heifer, sprinkling those defiled, doth sanctify to the purifying of the flesh,

For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes on those who have become unclean sets them apart to God for the cleansing of their flesh,

14 how much more shall the blood of the Christ (who through the age-during Spirit did offer himself unblemished to God) purify your conscience from dead works to serve 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 because of this, of a new covenant he is mediator, that, death having come, for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, those called may receive the promise of the age-during inheritance, (aiōnios g166)

For this reason, he is the mediator of a new covenant. This is so that, since a death has taken place to free those under the first covenant from their sins, those who are called will receive the promise of an eternal inheritance. (aiōnios g166)

16 for where a covenant [is], the death of the covenant-victim to come in is necessary,

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

17 for a covenant over dead victims [is] stedfast, since it is no force at all when the covenant-victim liveth,

For a will is only in force when there has been a death, because it has no force while the one who made it is still alive.

18 whence not even the first apart from blood hath been initiated,

So not even the first covenant was established without blood.

19 for every command having been spoken, according to law, by Moses, to all the people, having taken the blood of the calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, he both the book itself and all the people did sprinkle,

For when Moses had given every command in the law to all the people, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water, red wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people.

20 saying, 'This [is] the blood of the covenant that God enjoined unto you,'

Then he said, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded for you.”

21 and both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the service with blood in like manner he did sprinkle,

In the same manner, he sprinkled the blood on the tabernacle and all the containers used in the service.

22 and with blood almost all things are purified according to the law, and apart from blood-shedding forgiveness doth not come.

According to the law, almost everything is cleansed with blood. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23 [It is] necessary, therefore, the pattern indeed of the things in the heavens to be purified with these, and the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these;

Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in heaven should be cleansed with these animal sacrifices. However, the heavenly things themselves had to be cleansed with much better sacrifices.

24 for not into holy places made with hands did the Christ enter — figures of the true — but into the heaven itself, now to be manifested in the presence of God for us;

For Christ did not enter into the most holy place made with hands, which is only a copy of the true one. Instead he entered into heaven itself, to appear now in God's presence for us.

25 nor that he may many times offer himself, even as the chief priest doth enter into the holy places every year with blood of others;

He did not go there in order to offer himself many times, as does the high priest, who enters the most holy place year by year with the blood of another.

26 since it had behoved him many times to suffer from the foundation of the world, but now once, at the full end of the ages, for putting away of sin through his sacrifice, he hath been manifested; (aiōn g165)

If that had been the case, then he would have had to suffer many times since the beginning of the world. But now he has appeared at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. (aiōn g165)

27 and as it is laid up to men once to die, and after this — judgment,

Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that comes judgment,

28 so also the Christ, once having been offered to bear the sins of many, a second time, apart from a sin-offering, shall appear, to those waiting for him — to salvation!

so also, Christ was offered once to take away the sins of many, and will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but for the salvation of those who are waiting for him.