1 T he first therefore also indeed had ordinances of service, and the sanctuary, a worldly one.

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

2 F or a tabernacle was set up; the first, in which both the candlestick and the table and the exposition of the loaves, which is called Holy;

For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary;

3 b ut after the second veil a tabernacle which is called Holy of holies,

and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All,

4 h aving a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant, covered round in every part with gold, in which the golden pot that had the manna, and the rod of Aaron that had sprouted, and the tables of the covenant;

which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;

5 a nd above over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy-seat; concerning which it is not now to speak in detail.

and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. Limitations of the Earthly Service

6 N ow these things being thus ordered, into the first tabernacle the priests enter at all times, accomplishing the services;

Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.

7 b ut into the second, the high priest only, once a year, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people:

But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance;

8 t he Holy Spirit shewing this, that the way of the holies has not yet been made manifest while as yet the first tabernacle has standing;

the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.

9 t he which an image for the present time, according to which both gifts and sacrifices, unable to perfect as to conscience him that worshipped, are offered,

It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—

10 o nly of meats and drinks and divers washings, ordinances of flesh, imposed until time of setting things right.

concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. The Heavenly Sanctuary

11 B ut Christ being come high priest of the good things to come, by the better and more perfect tabernacle not made with hand, (that is, not of this creation,)

But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.

12 n or by blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, has entered in once for all into the holies, having found an eternal redemption.

Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

13 F or if the blood of goats and bulls, and a heifer's ashes sprinkling the defiled, sanctifies for the purity of the flesh,

For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,

14 h ow much rather shall the blood of the Christ, who by the eternal Spirit offered himself spotless to God, purify your conscience from dead works to worship living God?

how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 A nd for this reason he is mediator of a new covenant, so that, death having taken place for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. The Mediator’s Death Necessary

16 ( For where a testament, the death of the testator must needs come in.

For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

17 F or a testament of force when men are dead, since it is in no way of force while the testator is alive.)

For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.

18 W hence neither the first was inaugurated without blood.

Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood.

19 F or every commandment having been spoken according to law by Moses to all the people; having taken the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, he sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,

For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,

20 s aying, This the blood of the covenant which God has enjoined to you.

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

21 A nd the tabernacle too and all the vessels of service he sprinkled in like manner with blood;

Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.

22 a nd almost all things are purified with blood according to the law, and without blood-shedding there is no remission.

And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Greatness of Christ’s Sacrifice

23 n ecessary then that the figurative representations of the things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with sacrifices better than these.

Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

24 F or the Christ is not entered into holy places made with hand, figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:

For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

25 n or in order that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy places every year with blood not his own;

not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—

26 s ince he had been obliged often to suffer from the foundation of the world. But now once in the consummation of the ages he has been manifested for putting away of sin by his sacrifice.

He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

27 A nd forasmuch as it is the portion of men once to die, and after this judgment;

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

28 t hus the Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear to those that look for him the second time without sin for salvation.

so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.