Hebrews 9

1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.

Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary.

2 A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place.

For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first room were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the Presence; this is called the Holy Place.

3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,

Behind the second veil was a room called the Holy of Holies.

4 containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

It had a golden censer and the ark of the covenant, which was overlaid on all sides with gold. In the ark were the golden jar containing the manna, the rod of Aaron that had budded, and the tablets of the covenant.

5 Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

6 When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties.

When these things were all in place, the priests regularly entered the first room of the tabernacle, performing their sacred duties.

7 But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

But into the second room, the high priest alone entered only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.

8 By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.

By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the holy places had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.

9 It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.

This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,

10 They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform.

but deal only with food and drink, and various washings and regulations for the flesh, imposed until the time of reformation.

11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation.

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands (that is, not of this creation),

12 He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption. (aiōnios g166)

he entered once for all into the holy places, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. (aiōnios g166)

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean,

For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God! (aiōnios g166)

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your consciences from dead works to serve the living God? (aiōnios g166)

15 Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. (aiōnios g166)

That is why he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. (aiōnios g166)

16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it,

For in the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it,

17 because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive.

because a will takes effect only after the person's death; it is never in force while the person who made it is alive.

18 That is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.

That is why even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood.

19 For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people,

For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people,

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

saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you.”

21 In the same way, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship.

In the same way, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship.

22 According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Indeed, according to the law nearly everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no remission.

23 So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

So it was necessary for the copies of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, but for the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these.

24 For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.

For Christ did not enter holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true ones; he entered heaven itself, so that he might now appear before God on our behalf.

25 Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.

Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the holy places year after year with blood that is not his own,

26 Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (aiōn g165)

for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. (aiōn g165)

27 Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,

And just as it is appointed for men to die once and then face judgment,

28 so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.

so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for him.