Hebrews 9

1 It had, indeed, then (even the first dwelling place) ordinances of service, also a worldly sanctuary,

It is true that even the first covenant had its regulations for divine worship, and its sanctuary – though only a material one.

2 for a dwelling place was prepared, the first, in which was both the lampstand, and the table, and the Bread of the Presentation—which is called “Holy”;

For a tent was constructed, with an outer part which contained the stand for the lamps, and the table, and the consecrated bread. This is called the sanctuary.

3 and after the second veil a dwelling place that is called “Holy of Holies,”

The part of the tent behind the second curtain is called the inner sanctuary.

4 having a golden censer, and the Ark of the Covenant overlaid all over with gold, in which [is] the golden pot having the manna, and the rod of Aaron that budded, and the tablets of the covenant,

In it is the gold incense-altar, and the ark containing the covenant, completely covered with gold. In the ark is a gold casket containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets on which the covenant was written;

5 and over it cherubim of the glory, overshadowing the propitiatory covering, concerning which we are not to particularly speak now.

while above it, and overshadowing the cover on which atonement was made, are the cherubim of the presence. Now is not the time to discuss these things in detail.

6 And these things having been thus prepared, into the first dwelling place, indeed, the priests go in at all times, performing the services,

Such, then, was the arrangement of the tent. Into the outer part priests are constantly going, in the discharge of their sacred duties;

7 and into the second, once in the year, only the chief priest, not apart from blood, which he offers for himself and the errors of the people.

but into the inner only the high priest goes, and that but once a year, and never without taking the blood of a victim, which he offers on his own behalf, and on behalf of the errors of the people.

8 By this the Holy Spirit was making evident that the way of the holy [places] has not yet been revealed, the first dwelling place yet having a standing,

By this the Holy Spirit is teaching that the way into the sanctuary was hidden, as long as the outer part of the tent still remained.

9 which [is] an allegory in regard to the present time, in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, which are not able, in regard to conscience, to make perfect him who is serving,

For that was only a type, to continue down to the present time; and, in keeping with it, both gifts and sacrifices are offered, though incapable of satisfying the conscience of the worshiper;

10 only on the basis of food, and drinks, and different immersions, and fleshly ordinances—until the time of reformation imposed on [them].

the whole system being concerned only with food and drink and various ablutions – external ceremonials imposed until the coming of the new order.

11 But Christ having come, Chief Priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect dwelling place not made with hands—that is, not of this creation—

But, when Christ came, he appeared as high priest of that better system which was established; and he entered through that nobler and more perfect tent, not made by human hands – that is to say, not a part of this present creation.

12 neither through blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, entered in once into the holy places, having obtained continuous redemption; (aiōnios g166)

Nor was it with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, that he entered, once and for all, into the sanctuary, and obtained our eternal deliverance. (aiōnios g166)

13 for if the blood of bulls, and goats, and ashes of a heifer, sprinkling those defiled, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh,

For, if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, purify those who have been defiled (as far as ceremonial purification goes),

14 how much more will the blood of the Christ (who through the perpetual Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God) purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (aiōnios g166)

how much more will the blood of the Christ, who, through his eternal Spirit, offered himself up to God, as a victim without blemish, purify our consciences from a lifeless formality, and fit us for the service of the living God! (aiōnios g166)

15 And because of this, He is mediator of a new covenant, that [His] death having come for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, those called may receive the promise of the continuous inheritance, (aiōnios g166)

And that is why he is the intermediary of a new covenant; in order that, as a death has taken place to effect a deliverance from the offenses committed under the first covenant, those who have received the call may obtain the eternal inheritance promised to them. (aiōnios g166)

16 for where a covenant [is], [it is] necessary to establish the death of the [one] having made [it],

Whenever such a covenant as a will is in question, the death of the testator must of necessity be alleged.

17 for a covenant is affirmed at death, since it is not in force at all when the [one] having made [it] lives,

For such a covenant takes effect only on death, it does not come into force as long as the testator is alive.

18 for which reason, not even the first has been initiated apart from blood,

This explains why even the first covenant was not ratified without the shedding of blood.

19 for every command having been spoken, according to law, by Moses, to all the people, having taken the blood of the calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, he sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people,

For, when every command had been announced to all the people by Moses in accordance with the Law, he took the blood of the calves and of the goats, with water, scarlet wool, and a bunch of hyssop, and sprinkled even the book of the Law, as well as all the people,

20 saying, “This [is] the blood of the covenant that God enjoined to you,”

saying, as he did so – “This is the blood that renders valid the covenant which God has commanded to be made with you.”

21 and he sprinkled both the Dwelling Place and all the vessels of the service with blood in like manner,

And in the same way he also sprinkled with the blood the tent and all the things that were used in public worship.

22 and with blood almost all things are purified according to the Law, and forgiveness does not come apart from blood-shedding.

Indeed, under the Law, almost everything is purified with blood; and, unless blood is shed, no forgiveness is to be obtained.

23 [It is] necessary, therefore, the pattern indeed of the things in the heavens to be purified with these, and the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these;

While, then, it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly realities to be purified by such means as these, the heavenly realities themselves required better sacrifices.

24 for the Christ did not enter into holy places made with hands—figures of the true—but into Heaven itself, now to be manifested in the presence of God for us;

For it was not into a sanctuary made by human hands, which merely foreshadowed the true one, that Christ entered, but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

25 nor that He may offer Himself many times, even as the chief priest enters into the holy places every year with blood of others,

Nor yet was it to offer himself may times, as year after year the high priest entered the sanctuary with an offering of blood – but not his own blood;

26 otherwise it was necessary for Him to suffer many times from the foundation of the world, but now He has been revealed once, at the full end of the ages, for [the] annulling of sin through His sacrifice; (aiōn g165)

for then Christ would have had to undergo death many times since the creation of the world. But now, once and for all, at the close of the age, he has appeared, in order to abolish sin by the sacrifice of himself. (aiōn g165)

27 and as it is reserved for men to die once, and after this—judgment,

And, as it is ordained for people to die but once (death being followed by judgment),

28 so also the Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, apart from a sin-offering, for salvation to those waiting for Him!

so it is with the Christ. He was offered up once and for all, to bear away the sins of many; and the second time he will appear – but without any burden of sin – to those who are waiting for him, to bring salvation.