Hebrews 9

1 The first therefore also indeed had ordinances of service, and the sanctuary, a worldly one.

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

2 For a tabernacle was set up; the first, in which [were] both the candlestick and the table and the exposition of the loaves, which is called Holy;

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

3 but after the second veil a tabernacle which is called Holy of holies,

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

4 having a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant, covered round in every part with gold, in which [were] the golden pot that had the manna, and the rod of Aaron that had sprouted, and the tables of the covenant;

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.

5 and above over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy-seat; concerning which it is not now [the time] to speak in detail.

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

6 Now these things being thus ordered, into the first tabernacle the priests enter at all times, accomplishing the services;

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

7 but into the second, the high priest only, once a year, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people:

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.

8 the Holy Spirit shewing this, that the way of the [holy of] holies has not yet been made manifest while as yet the first tabernacle has [its] standing;

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.

9 the which [is] an image for the present time, according to which both gifts and sacrifices, unable to perfect as to conscience him that worshipped, are offered,

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

10 [consisting] only of meats and drinks and divers washings, ordinances of flesh, imposed until [the] time of setting things right.

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

11 But Christ being come high priest of the good things to come, by the better and more perfect tabernacle not made with hand, (that is, not of this creation, )

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.

12 nor by blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, has entered in once for all into the [holy of] holies, having found an eternal redemption. (aiōnios g166)

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)

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and a heifer's ashes sprinkling the defiled, sanctifies for the purity of the flesh,

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,

14 how much rather shall the blood of the Christ, who by the eternal Spirit offered himself spotless to God, purify your conscience from dead works to worship [the] living God? (aiōnios g166)

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)

15 And for this reason he is mediator of a new covenant, so that, death having taken place for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (aiōnios g166)

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)

16 (For where [there is] a testament, the death of the testator must needs come in.

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

17 For a testament [is] of force when men are dead, since it is in no way of force while the testator is alive.)

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

18 Whence neither the first was inaugurated without blood.

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

19 For every commandment having been spoken according to [the] law by Moses to all the people; having taken the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, he sprinkled both the book itself 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 and all the people,

20 saying, This [is] the blood of the covenant which God has enjoined to you.

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

21 And the tabernacle too and all the vessels of service he sprinkled in like manner with blood;

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

22 and almost all things are purified with blood according to the law, and without blood-shedding there is no remission.

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

23 [It was] necessary then that the figurative representations of the things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with sacrifices better than these.

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.

24 For the Christ is not entered into holy places made with hand, figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:

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.

25 nor in order that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy places every year with blood not his own;

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.

26 since he had [then] been obliged often to suffer from the foundation of the world. But now once in the consummation of the ages he has been manifested for [the] putting away of sin by his sacrifice. (aiōn g165)

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)

27 And forasmuch as it is the portion of men once to die, and after this judgment;

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

28 thus the Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear to those that look for him the second time without sin for salvation.

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.