Hebrews 9

1 The first covenant, then, had indeed ordinances of religious service, and a worldly sanctuary.

Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and an earthly sanctuary.

2 For a tabernacle was prepared, the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the show-bread; which is called the holy place:

For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first part were the lamp stand, the table, and the show bread, which is called the Holy Place.

3 and after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the holy of holies,

After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,

4 which had the golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on every side with gold, wherein was the golden pot containing the manna, and the rod of Aaron which budded, and the tables of the covenant;

having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;

5 and over it the cherubs of glory, overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we can’t speak now in detail.

6 Now these things being thus prepared, into the first tabernacle indeed the priests enter at all times, performing the services;

Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services,

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

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

8 the Holy Spirit clearly showing this, that the way into the sanctuary hath not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing:

The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing.

9 which is a figure for the present time, in accordance with which are offered both gifts and sacrifices, which have no power as to the conscience to perfect the worshipper,

This is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshipper perfect,

10 being only ordinances pertaining to the flesh, which in addition to meats and drinks and divers washings are imposed until the time of reformation.

being only (with foods and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.

11 But Christ having appeared, as a high-priest of the good things to come, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, entered once for all into the sanctuary,

But Messiah having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,

12 not with the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, and obtained for us everlasting redemption. (aiōnios g166)

nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. (aiōnios g166)

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the purifying of the flesh,

For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh,

14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who by his everlasting spirit offered himself without spot to God, purify your conscience from dead works, for the worship of the living God! (aiōnios g166)

how much more will the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (aiōnios g166)

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that, death having taken place for redemption from the transgressions under the first covenant, they who have been called may receive the everlasting inheritance which was promised. (aiōnios g166)

For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (aiōnios g166)

16 For where there is a testament there must of necessity be implied the death of the testator;

For where a last will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it.

17 for a testament is of force after men are dead, since it is of no force while the testator is living.

For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives.

18 Hence neither was the first covenant ratified without blood.

Therefore even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood.

19 For when Moses had spoken every precept according to the Law to all the people, he took the blood of the calves and of the goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,

For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Torah, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,

20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God enjoined in respect to you.”

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

21 The tabernacle also and all the vessels of the service he in like manner sprinkled with the blood.

He sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry in the same way with the blood.

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

According to the Torah, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.

23 It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with sacrifices better than these.

It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

24 For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made with hands, which is only a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God in our behalf.

For Messiah hasn’t entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

25 Nor yet to make an offering of himself many times, as the high-priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his own,

26 for then must he have suffered many times since the foundation of the world; but now once in the end of the world he hath appeared, to put away sin by means of his sacrifice. (aiōn g165)

or else he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the ages, he has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (aiōn g165)

27 And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment;

Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgement,

28 so also Christ having been once offered up to bear the sins of many, will appear the second time, without sin, for the salvation of those who are waiting for him.

so Messiah also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.