Hebrews 10
1 For the law contains the shadow of future good things, not the very image of these things. So, by the very same sacrifices which they offer ceaselessly each year, they can never cause these to approach perfection.
For, since the Law exhibits only an outline of the blessings to come and not a perfect representation of the things themselves, the priests can never, by repeating the same sacrifices which they continually offer year after year, give complete freedom from sin to those who draw near.
2 Otherwise, they would have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, once cleansed, would no longer be conscious of any sin.
For then would not the sacrifices have ceased to be offered, because the consciences of the worshippers--who in that case would now have been cleansed once for all--would no longer be burdened with sins?
3 Instead, in these things, a commemoration of sins is made every year.
But in those sacrifices sins are recalled to memory year after year.
4 For it is impossible for sins to be taken away by the blood of oxen and goats.
For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 For this reason, as Christ enters into the world, he says: “Sacrifice and oblation, you did not want. But you have fashioned a body for me.
That is why, when He comes into the world, He says, "Sacrifice and offering Thou has not desired, but a body Thou hast prepared for Me.
6 Holocausts for sin were not pleasing to you.
In whole burnt-offerings and in sin-offerings Thou hast taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I draw near.’ At the head of the book, it has been written of me that I should do your will, O God.”
Then I said, 'I have come--in the roll of the book it is written concerning Me--to do Thy will, O God.'"
8 In the above, by saying, “Sacrifices, and oblations, and holocausts for sin, you did not want, nor are those things pleasing to you, which are offered according to the law;
After saying the words I have just quoted, "Sacrifices and offerings or whole burnt-offerings and sin-offerings Thou hast not desired or taken pleasure in" --all such being offered in obedience to the Law--
9 then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,’” he takes away the first, so that he may establish what follows.
He then adds, "I have come to do Thy will." He does away with the first in order to establish the second.
10 For by this will, we have been sanctified, through the one time oblation of the body of Jesus Christ.
It is through that divine will that we have been set free from sin, through the offering of Jesus Christ as our sacrifice once for all.
11 And certainly, every priest stands by, ministering daily, and frequently offering the same sacrifices, which are never able to take away sins.
And while every priest stands ministering, day after day, and constantly offering the same sacrifices--though such can never rid us of our sins--
12 But this man, offering one sacrifice for sins, sits at the right hand of God forever,
this Priest, on the contrary, after offering for sins a single sacrifice of perpetual efficacy, took His seat at God's right hand,
13 awaiting that time when his enemies will be made his footstool.
waiting from that time onward until His enemies be put as a footstool under His feet.
14 For, by one oblation, he has brought to fulfillment, for all time, those who are sanctified.
For by a single offering He has for ever completed the blessing for those whom He is setting free from sin.
15 Now the Holy Spirit also testifies for us about this. For afterward, he said:
And the Holy Spirit also gives us His testimony; for when He had said,
16 “And this is the testament which I will commit to them after those days, says the Lord. I will instill my laws in their hearts, and I will inscribe my laws on their minds.
"'This is the Covenant that I will make with them after those days,' says the Lord: 'I will put My laws upon their hearts and will write them on their minds;'"
17 And I will no longer remember their sins and iniquities.”
He adds, "And their sins and offences I will remember no longer."
18 Now, when there is a remission of these things, there is no longer an oblation for sin.
But where these have been forgiven no further offering for sin is required.
19 And so, brothers, have faith in the entrance into the Holy of Holies by the blood of Christ,
Since then, brethren, we have free access to the Holy place through the blood of Jesus,
20 and in the new and living Way, which he has initiated for us by the veil, that is, by his flesh,
by the new and ever-living way which He opened up for us through the rending of the veil--that is to say, of His earthly nature--
21 and in the Great Priest over the house of God.
and since we have a great Priest who has authority over the house of God,
22 So, let us draw near with a true heart, in the fullness of faith, having hearts cleansed from an evil conscience, and bodies absolved with clean water.
let us draw near with sincerity and unfaltering faith, having had our hearts sprinkled, once for all, from consciences oppressed with sin, and our bodies bathed in pure water.
23 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope, without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.
Let us hold firmly to an unflinching avowal of our hope, for He is faithful who gave us the promises.
24 And let us be considerate of one another, so as to prompt ourselves to charity and to good works,
And let us bestow thought on one another with a view to arousing one another to brotherly love and right conduct;
25 not deserting our assembly, as some are accustomed to do, but consoling one another, and even more so as you see that the day is approaching.
not neglecting--as some habitually do--to meet together, but encouraging one another, and doing this all the more since you can see the day of Christ approaching.
26 For if we sin willingly, after receiving knowledge of the truth, there is no sacrifice remaining for sins,
For if we wilfully persist in sin after having received the full knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains in reserve any other sacrifice for sins.
27 but instead, a certain terrible expectation of judgment, and the rage of a fire that shall consume its adversaries.
There remains nothing but a certain awful expectation of judgement, and the fury of a fire which before long will devour the enemies of the truth.
28 If someone dies for acting against the law of Moses, and is shown no compassion because of two or three witnesses,
Any one who bids defiance to the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
29 how much more, do you think, someone would deserve worse punishments, if he has tread upon the Son of God, and has treated the blood of the testament, by which he was sanctified, as unclean, and has acted with disgrace toward the Spirit of grace?
How much severer punishment, think you, will he be held to deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, has not regarded as holy that Covenant-blood with which he was set free from sin, and has insulted the Spirit from whom comes grace?
30 For we know that he has said: “Vengeance is mine, and I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
For we know who it is that has said, "Vengeance belongs to Me: I will pay back;" and again, "The Lord will be His people's judge."
31 It is dreadful to fall into the hands of the living God.
It is an awful thing to fall into the hands of the ever-living God.
32 But call to mind the former days, in which, after being enlightened, you endured a great struggle of afflictions.
But continually recall to mind the days now past, when on being first enlightened you went through a great conflict and many sufferings.
33 And certainly, in one way, by insults and tribulations, you were made a spectacle, but in another way, you became the companions of those who were the object of such behavior.
This was partly through allowing yourselves to be made a public spectacle amid reproaches and persecutions, and partly through coming forward to share the sufferings of those who were thus treated.
34 For you even had compassion on those who were imprisoned, and you accepted with gladness being deprived of your goods, knowing that you have a better and more lasting substance.
For you not only showed sympathy with those who were imprisoned, but you even submitted with joy when your property was taken from you, being well aware that you have in your own selves a more valuable possession and one which will remain.
35 And so, do not lose your confidence, which has a great reward.
Therefore do not cast from you your confident hope, for it will receive a vast reward.
36 For it is necessary for you to be patient, so that, by doing the will of God, you may receive the promise.
For you stand in need of patient endurance, so that, as the result of having done the will of God, you may receive the promised blessing.
37 “For, in a little while, and somewhat longer, he who is to come will return, and he will not delay.
For there is still but a short time and then "The coming One will come and will not delay.
38 For my just man lives by faith. But if he were to draw himself back, he would not please my soul.”
But it is by faith that My righteous servant shall live; and if he shrinks back, My soul takes no pleasure in him."
39 So then, we are not sons who are drawn away to perdition, but we are sons of faith toward the securing of the soul.
But we are not people who shrink back and perish, but are among those who believe and gain possession of their souls.
