Hebrews 10

1 For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.

For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the real forms of those things themselves. Those who approach God can never be made perfect by the same sacrifices that the priests continually bring year after year.

2 If it could, would not the offerings have ceased? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt the guilt of their sins.

Otherwise, would the sacrifices not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed one time and would no longer have any consciousness of sin.

3 Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,

But with those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year.

4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me.

When Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me;

6 In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight.

with burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not take pleasure.

7 Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.’”

Then I said, 'See, here I am— as it is written about me in the scroll— to do your will.'”

8 In the passage above He says, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor did You delight in them” (although they are offered according to the law).

First he said, “It was neither sacrifices, nor offerings, nor whole burnt offerings, nor sacrifices for sin that you desired. Nor did you take pleasure in them.” These are sacrifices that are offered according to the law.

9 Then He adds, “Here I am, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second.

Then he said, “See, here I am to do your will.” He takes away the first practice in order to establish the second practice.

10 And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

By that will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

Day after day every priest stands and performs his service to God. He offers the same sacrifices again and again—sacrifices that can never take away sins.

12 But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.

But when Christ offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.

13 Since that time, He waits for His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet,

He is waiting until his enemies are made a stool for his feet.

14 because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.

For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says:

The Holy Spirit also testifies to us. First he said,

16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts and inscribe them on their minds.”

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.

17 Then He adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

Their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no longer.”

18 And where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer needed.

Now where there is forgiveness for these, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,

Therefore, brothers, we have confidence to enter into the most holy place by the blood of Jesus.

20 by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,

That is the new and living way that he has opened for us through the curtain, that is, by means of his flesh.

21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

Because we have a great priest over the house of God,

22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

let us approach with true hearts in the full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.

Let us also hold tightly to the confession of our hope without wavering, because God, who has promised, is faithful.

24 And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.

Let us consider how to motivate one another to love and good deeds.

25 Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Let us not stop meeting together, as some have done. Instead, encourage one another more and more, and all the more as you see the day coming closer.

26 If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,

For if we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, a sacrifice for sins no longer exists.

27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.

Instead, there is only a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume God's enemies.

28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Anyone who has rejected the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses.

29 How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

How much worse punishment do you think one deserves who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, who treated the blood of the covenant as unholy—the blood by which he was sanctified—and insulted the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”

For we know the one who said, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will pay back.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

32 Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering.

But remember the former days, after you were enlightened, how you endured a great struggle in suffering.

33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who were so treated.

You were exposed to public ridicule by insults and persecution, and you were sharing with those who went through such suffering.

34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.

For you had compassion on those who were prisoners, and you accepted with joy the seizure of your possessions. You knew that you yourselves had a better and everlasting possession.

35 So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward.

So do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

36 You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.

For you need patience, so that you may receive what God has promised, after you have done his will.

37 For, “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.

“For in a very little while, the one who is coming will indeed come and not delay.

38 But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”

My righteous one will live by faith. If he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.”

39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

But we are not any of those who turn back to destruction. Instead, we are some of those who have faith for keeping our soul.