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

Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and an 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. In the first part were the lamp stand, the table, and the show bread; which is called the Holy Place.

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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 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 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 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 is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet revealed 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,

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

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

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 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 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.

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 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 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 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 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 ¶ 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.

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 a testament is, there must also of necessity intervene the death of the testator.

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

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

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

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

Therefore even the first covenant has not been 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 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, 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.

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

22 A nd almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

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

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.

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 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 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 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);

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 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.

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

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