Hebrews 9

1 Now even the first [covenant] had ordinances of divine service, and its sanctuary, [a sanctuary] of this world.

Now that first covenant did indeed have regulations for divine service and the earthly sanctuary.

2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first, wherein [were] the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the Holy place.

Yes, a tabernacle was set up: the first part, which is called the Holy Place, in which were the lamp stand, the table and the showbread;

3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies;

and behind the second curtain an area called the Holy of Holies,

4 having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

having a golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold—in it were a golden jar holding the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant;

5 and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we cannot now speak severally.

while above it were cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat (this is not the place to go into detail about them).

6 Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services;

Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests continually went into the first part, performing the divine services,

7 but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offereth for himself, and for the errors of the people:

but into the second one only the high priest could go, once a year and only with blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins of ignorance;

8 the Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing;

the Holy Spirit was making clear that the way into the Most Holy Place was not yet open to the public while the first tabernacle was still in existence.

9 which [is] a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect,

It was a figure during the time then present, a time when both gifts and sacrifices were being offered that were incapable of clearing the conscience of the worshiper—

10 [being] only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.

they were only about foods and drinks and various ceremonial washings and physical regulations, things imposed until the time of restructuring.

11 But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,

But Christ entered once for all into the real Holy Places, having obtained eternal redemption—He had come as High Priest of the good things that are about to be, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,

12 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. (aiōnios g166)

and with His own blood, not that of goats and calves. (aiōnios g166)

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh:

For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who had been ceremonially defiled, restored ceremonial purity to the body,

14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (aiōnios g166)

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the Holy Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (aiōnios g166)

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (aiōnios g166)

For this reason He is mediator of a new covenant, so that those who have been called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant. (aiōnios g166)

16 For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it.

Now where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be established;

17 For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth.

because a will is in force after men are dead, since it never takes effect while the one who made it lives.

18 Wherefore even the first [covenant] hath not been dedicated without blood.

Therefore, not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood;

19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses unto 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,

because when every commandment of the Law had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people,

20 saying, This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded to you-ward.

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

21 Moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled in like manner with the blood.

Then he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the divine service with the blood in the same way.

22 And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.

In fact, according to the Law nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

23 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.

So then, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with such, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than those.

24 For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:

For Christ did not enter into Holy Places made by hands, mere copies of the true ones, but into Heaven itself, now to appear in God's presence on our behalf;

25 nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own;

but not in order to offer Himself repeatedly, like the high priest who entered the Most Holy Place year by year with another's blood

26 else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (aiōn g165)

—otherwise He would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world; but now, once for all at the end of the ages, He has been revealed to nullify sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (aiōn g165)

27 And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this [cometh] judgment;

Also, inasmuch as men are destined to die but once, after which the judgment,

28 so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.

so the Christ also, having been offered once for all to bear the sins of many—He will appear a second time to those who are eagerly waiting for Him, apart from sin, into salvation.