1 ¶ Nevertheless the first had its justifications of worship and its worldly sanctuary.

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

2 F or there was a tabernacle made: the first, in which was the lampstand and the table and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary.

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

3 A nd after the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,

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

4 w hich had a golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, in which was the golden urn that had the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the testament,

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 over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the seat of reconciliation, of which we cannot now speak particularly.

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 when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

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 went alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for his own ignorance, and for that 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 ¶ The Holy Spirit signifying in this, that the way into the sanctuary was not yet made manifest, as long as the first tabernacle was yet 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 W hich was a figure of that time present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience,

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 b ut in foods and drinks and different washings and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of correction.

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 now come, high priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, 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 either by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the sanctuary designed for 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 bulls and of goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctified to the purifying 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 more shall the blood of the Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from the works of death to serve the 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 ¶ And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, so that death intervening for the redemption of the rebellions that took place under the first testament, those who are 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 F or where a testament is, there must also of necessity intervene the death of the testator.

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

17 F or a testament is confirmed by the death: otherwise it is not valid as long as the testator lives.

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

18 F rom which came that not even the first one was dedicated without blood.

Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood.

19 F or when Moses had read every commandment of the law to all the people, taking the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, he sprinkled both the book 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 is the blood of the testament which God has commanded unto you.

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

21 M oreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.

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

22 A nd almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood 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 ¶ So that it was necessary that the figures of the heavenly things should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices 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 Christ is not entered into the sanctuary made with hands (which is a figure of the true), but into the heaven itself, now to appear in the presence 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 yet that he should offer himself many times (as the high priest enters into the sanctuary each year with blood that is 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 o therwise it would have been necessary for him to suffer many times since the foundation of the world; but now once in the consummation of the ages he has appeared to abolish sin by the sacrifice of himself.

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 as it is appointed unto men to die once, and after this the judgment;

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

28 s o also the Christ is offered once to take away the sins of many; and unto those that wait for him without sin he shall appear the second time unto saving health.

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.