Hebrews 8

1 Now in the things which we are saying, the main point is this. We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty 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 sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, 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 high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this high priest also have something to 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 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer 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 serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Mushe was warned when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, "See, you shall make everything 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 ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises has been given as Law.

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 the first had been faultless, then no place would 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 with them, he said, "Look, the days are coming," says the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israyel and with the house of Yehudah;

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 that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue in my covenant, and I disregarded 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 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israyel. After those days," says the Lord; "I will put my laws into their mind, I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my 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 They will not teach each one his fellow citizen, and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest 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 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins no more."

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

13 In that he says, "new," he has made the first old. But that which is becoming old and grows aged is near to vanishing away.

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.