Hebrews 9

1 Now, indeed, the first institution had both ordinances of service, and a worldly holy place.

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

2 For the first tabernacle, which is called holy, was set in order; in which were both the candlestick and the table, and the showbread;

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 and behind the second vail, the tabernacle which is called most holy--

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

4 having the golden censer, and the ark of the institution, covered everywhere with gold, in which were the golden pot having the manna, and the rod of Aaron, which budded, and the tables of the institution;

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 and above it, the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy-seat; concerning which things we can not at present speak particularly.

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 this set in order, the priests go at all times indeed into the first tabernacle, performing the services;

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

7 but into the second tabernacle--the high priest alone--once every year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people.

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 The Holy Spirit signifying this, that the way of the holy places was not yet laid open, while the first tabernacle was yet 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 which was a figurative representation for the time being, during which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which can not, with respect to the conscience, make him who does the service perfect--

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

10 only with meats and drinks, and divers immersions-- ordinances concerning the flesh, imposed till the time of reformation.

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

11 But Christ being come--a High Priest of the good things to come--has, through a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, (that is to say, not of this building, )

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 entered once into the holy places, having obtained eternal redemption; not indeed, by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood. (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 bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the polluted, sanctified to the cleansing of the flesh,

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 shall the blood of Christ, who, through an Eternal Spirit, offered himself without fault, to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to 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 And, for this reason, he is mediator of the new institution, that, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first institution, those who had been called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (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 Now, where there is such an institution, the death of the instituted sacrifice must necessarily intervene:

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

17 for since the institution is ratified over the dead, it has no force while the instituted sacrifice lives.

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 Hence, neither was the first introduced without blood;

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

19 for "when Moses had spoken every precept in the law to all the people, taking the blood of calves, and of goats, with water and scarlet wool, and hyssop, he sprinkled both the book itself, and 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 institution, which God has enjoined on you."

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

21 Moreover, he in like manner sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

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

22 And almost all thing, according to the law, were cleansed with blood; and without the shedding of blood, there is no remission.

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

23 It was necessary, then, indeed, that the representations of the things in the heavens should be purified with these; 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 Therefore, Christ has not entered into the holy places made with hands, the antitypes of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God, on our account.

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 Not, however, that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy places every year with other blood;

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 for then he must have often sufferance since the foundation of the world: but now, once, at the conclusion of the ages, he has been manifested to put away 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 And, forasmuch as it is appointed to men once to die, and after that, the judgment;

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

28 even so Christ, being once offered, to bear away the sins of many, will, to them who look for him, appear a second time, without a sin-offering, in order to salvation.

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.