1 N ow even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.

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

2 F or there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place.

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 ehind the second veil there was a 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 h aving a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, 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 it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now 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 when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship,

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, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.

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 is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still 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 is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in 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 s ince they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.

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

11 B ut when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the 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 a nd not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained 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 the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing 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 will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works 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 F or this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may 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 covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it.

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

17 F or a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.

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

18 T herefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood.

Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood.

19 F or 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,

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 covenant which God commanded you.”

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

21 A nd in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood.

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

22 A nd according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

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 T herefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed 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 did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into 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 was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by 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, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away 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 inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,

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

28 s o Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

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.