9
1 Now
indeed even the
first
covenant had ordinances
of divine service
and an
earthly sanctuary.
2 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 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
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 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, the
priests go in
continually into
the first
tabernacle, accomplishing
the services,
7 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 is
indicating this,
that the way into
the Holy Place wasn’t
yet revealed while
the first
tabernacle was
still standing.
9 This
is a symbol
of the present
age, where gifts
and sacrifices are
offered that are
incapable, concerning
the conscience, of
making the
worshiper perfect,
10 being
only (with foods
and drinks and
various washings) fleshly
ordinances, imposed
until a time
of reformation.
11 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
the blood of goats
and calves, but
through his
own blood, entered
in once for
all into the Holy
Place, having obtained eternal
redemption.
13 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
Christ, who
through the eternal
Spirit offered
himself without defect
to God, cleanse
your conscience
from dead works
to serve the
living God?
15 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.
16 For
where a last will
and testament is,
there must
of necessity be
the death of
him who made
it.
17 For
a will is
in force where
there has been
death, for it
is never in
force while he
who made it
lives.
18 Therefore
even the
first covenant has
not been dedicated
without blood.
19 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 has commanded
you.”
21 He
sprinkled the
tabernacle and all
the vessels of
the ministry in
the same way
with the blood.
22 According
to the law,
nearly everything
is cleansed
with blood, and
apart from shedding
of blood there is
no remission.
23 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
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 he
should offer
himself often, as
the high priest
enters into
the holy place
year by year
with blood not his
own,
26 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.
27 Inasmuch
as it is appointed
for men to die
once, and after
this, judgment,
28 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.