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

It had, indeed, then (even the first tabernacle) ordinances of service, also a worldly 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, the first, in which was both the lamp-stand, and the table, and the bread of the presence -- which is called `Holy;'

3 B ut beyond the second curtain or veil, tabernacle known as the Holy of Holies.

and after the second vail a tabernacle that is called `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 censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid all round about with gold, in which the golden pot having the manna, and the rod of Aaron that budded, and the tables 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 over it cherubim of the glory, overshadowing the mercy-seat, concerning which we are not now to speak particularly.

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.

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

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,

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 this evidencing that not yet hath been manifested the way of the holy, the first tabernacle having yet a 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 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,

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.

only in victuals, and drinks, and different baptisms, and fleshly ordinances -- till the time of reformation imposed upon.

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,

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 --

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).

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;

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 bulls, and goats, and ashes of an heifer, sprinkling those defiled, doth sanctify to the purifying 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 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?

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.

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,

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 covenant, the death of the covenant-victim to come in is necessary,

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 covenant over dead victims stedfast, since it is no force at all when the covenant-victim liveth,

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

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

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 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,

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 the blood of the covenant that God enjoined unto 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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;

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 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;

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 that he may many times offer himself, even as the chief priest doth enter into the holy places every year with blood of others;

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.

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;

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

and as it is laid up to men once to die, 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 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!