1 N ow even the first covenant had its own rules and regulations for divine worship, and it had a sanctuary of this world.

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

2 F or a tabernacle (tent) was erected, in the outer division or compartment of which were the lampstand and the table with the showbread set forth. 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 B ut beyond the second curtain or veil, tabernacle known as the Holy of Holies.

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

4 I t had the golden altar of incense and the ark (chest) of the covenant, covered over with wrought gold. This contained a golden jar which held the manna and the rod of Aaron that sprouted and the slabs 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 A bove and overshadowing the mercy seat were the representations of the cherubim of glory. We cannot now go into detail about these things.

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

6 T hese arrangements having thus been made, the priests enter into the outer division of the tabernacle in performance of their ritual acts of worship.

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

7 B ut into the second none but the high priest goes, and he only once a year, and never without taking a sacrifice of blood with him, which he offers for himself and for the errors and sins of ignorance and thoughtlessness which the people have committed.

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 B y this the Holy Spirit points out that the way into the Holies is not yet thrown open as long as the former tabernacle remains a recognized institution and is still 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 S eeing that that first tabernacle was a parable (a visible symbol or type or picture of the present age). In it gifts and sacrifices are offered, and yet are incapable of perfecting the conscience or of cleansing and renewing the inner man 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 worshiper perfect;

10 F or deal only with clean and unclean meats and drinks and different washings, external rules and regulations for the body imposed to tide the worshipers over until the time of setting things straight.

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

11 B ut when Christ (the Messiah) appeared as a High Priest of the better things that have come and are to come. through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not a part of this material 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 H e went once for all into the Holies, not by virtue of the blood of goats and calves, but His own blood, having found and secured a complete redemption (an everlasting release for us).

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 F or if sprinkling of unholy and defiled persons with blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a burnt heifer is sufficient for the purification of the body,

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 H ow much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of eternal Spirit '> divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the living God?

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 i s therefore the Negotiator and Mediator of an new agreement (testament, covenant), so that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfillment of the promised everlasting inheritance—since a death has taken place which rescues and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first agreement.

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 F or where there is a will and testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established,

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

17 F or a will and testament is valid and takes effect only at death, since it has no force or legal power as long as the one who made it is alive.

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

18 S o even the first covenant (God’s will) was not inaugurated and ratified and put in force without the shedding of blood.

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

19 F or when every command of the Law had been read out by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of slain calves and goats, together with water and scarlet wool and with a bunch of hyssop, and sprinkled both the Book (the roll of the Law and covenant) itself and 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 book itself and all the people,

20 S aying these words: This is the blood that seals and ratifies the agreement (the testament, the covenant) which God commanded you.

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

21 A nd in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels and appliances used in worship.

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

22 u nder the Law almost everything is purified by means of blood, and without the shedding of blood there is neither release from sin and its guilt nor the remission of the due and merited punishment for sins.

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

23 B y such means, therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified, but the actual heavenly things themselves better and nobler 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 F or Christ (the Messiah) has not entered into a sanctuary made with hands, only a copy and pattern and type of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to 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 N or did He offer Himself regularly again and again, as the high priest enters the Holies every year with blood not his own.

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 F or then would He often have had to suffer since the foundation of the world. But as it now is, He has once for all at the consummation and close of the ages appeared to put away and abolish sin by His sacrifice.

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 A nd just as it is appointed for men once to die, and after that the judgment,

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

28 E ven so it is that Christ, having been offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many once and once for all, will appear a second time, not to carry any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are waiting for and expecting Him.

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.