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

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

3 B ehind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,

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

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;

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 above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

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 have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship,

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, 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 the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people.

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

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 s ince they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.

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

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 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 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.

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 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 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 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 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 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.

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 covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it.

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

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

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

Therefore even the first covenant has not been 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 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 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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 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 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 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.

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, 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.

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 inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,

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