1 N ow the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,

Now the main point of what we have to say is this: We have such a High Priest, One Who is seated at the right hand of the majestic in heaven,

2 a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.

As officiating Priest, a Minister in the holy places and in the true tabernacle which is erected not by man but by the Lord.

3 F or every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.

For every high priest is appointed to offer up gifts and sacrifices; so it is essential for this to have some offering to make also.

4 N ow if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law;

If then He were still living on earth, He would not be a priest at all, for there are who offer the gifts in accordance with the Law.

5 w ho serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “ See,” He says, “ that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”

service as a pattern and as a foreshadowing of the heavenly sanctuary. For when Moses was about to erect the tabernacle, he was warned by God, saying, See to it that you make it all according to the copy (the model) which was shown to you on the mountain.

6 B ut now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. A New Covenant

But as it now is, He has acquired a ministry which is as much superior and more excellent as the covenant (the agreement) of which He is the Mediator (the Arbiter, Agent) is superior and more excellent, it is enacted and rests upon more important (sublimer, higher, and nobler) promises.

7 F or if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.

For if that first covenant had been without defect, there would have been no room for another one or an attempt to institute another one.

8 F or finding fault with them, He says, “ Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, When I will effect a new covenant With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;

However, He finds fault with them when He says, Behold, the days will come, says the Lord, when I will make and ratify a new covenant or agreement with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

9 N ot like the covenant which I made with their fathers On the day when I took them by the hand To lead them out of the land of Egypt; For they did not continue in My covenant, And I did not care for them, says the Lord.

It will not be like the covenant that I made with their forefathers on the day when I grasped them by the hand to help and relieve them and to lead them out from the land of Egypt, for they did not abide in My agreement with them, and so I withdrew My favor and disregarded them, says the Lord.

10 “ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, And I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, And they shall be My people.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

11 “ And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, And everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ For all will know Me, From the least to the greatest of them.

And it will nevermore be necessary for each one to teach his neighbor and his fellow citizen or each one his brother, saying, Know (perceive, have knowledge of, and get acquainted by experience with) the Lord, for all will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest of them.

12 “ For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more.”

For I will be merciful and gracious toward their sins and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more.

13 W hen He said, “ A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.

When God speaks of a new, He makes the first one obsolete (out of use). And what is obsolete (out of use and annulled because of age) is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether.