Hebrews 8

1 And the sum concerning the things spoken of [is]: we have such a Chief Priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Greatness in the heavens,

To sum up what I have been saying: Such is the high priest that we have, one who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God’s Majesty in heaven,

2 a servant of the holy places, and of the true dwelling place, which the LORD set up, and not man,

where he serves in the sanctuary, in that true tent set up by the Lord and not by man.

3 for every chief priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, from where [it is] necessary for this One to also have something that He may offer;

Every high priest is appointed for the purpose of offering gifts and sacrifices to God; it follows, therefore, that this high priest must have some offering to make.

4 for if, indeed, He were on earth, He would not be a priest (there being the priests who are offering the gifts according to the Law,

If he were, however, still on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts as the Law directs.

5 who to an example and shadow serve of the heavenly things, as Moses has been divinely warned, being about to construct the Dwelling Place, for, “See,” He says, “[that] you will make all things according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain”),

(These priests, it is true, are engaged in a service which is only a copy and shadow of the heavenly realities, as is shown by the directions given to Moses when he was about to construct the tent. ‘Look to it,’ are the words, ‘that you make every part in accordance with the pattern shown you on the mountain.’)

6 but now He has obtained a more excellent service, how much He is also mediator of a better covenant, which has been sanctioned on better promises,

But Jesus, as we see, has obtained a ministry as far excelling theirs, as the covenant of which he is the intermediary, based, as it is, on better promises, excels the former covenant.

7 for if that first were faultless, a place would not have been sought for a second.

If that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second.

8 For finding fault, He says to them, “Behold, days come, says the LORD, and I will complete with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah, a new covenant,

But, finding fault with the people, God says – ‘“A time is coming,” says the Lord, “When I will ratify a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah –

9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day of My taking [them] by their hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt—because they did not remain in My covenant, and I did not regard them, says the LORD—

Not such a covenant as I made with their ancestors on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not abide by their covenant with me, and therefore I disregarded them,” says the Lord.

10 because this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, says the LORD, giving My laws into their mind, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be to them for a God, and they will be to Me for a people;

“This is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will impress my laws on their minds, and will inscribe them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.

11 and they will not each teach his neighbor, and each his brother, saying, Know the LORD, because they will all know Me—from the small one of them to the great one of them,

There will be no need for anyone to instruct their fellow citizen, or for a person to say to their relatives ‘Learn to know the Lord’; for everyone will know me, from the lowest to the highest.

12 because I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and I will remember their sins and their lawlessnesses no more.”

For I will be merciful to their wrongdoings, and I will no longer remember their sins.”’

13 In the saying “new,” He has made the first obsolete, and what is becoming obsolete and growing old [is] near disappearing.

By speaking of a new covenant, God at once renders the former covenant obsolete; and whatever becomes obsolete and loses its force is virtually annulled.