Hebrews 8

1 A crowning point on the things being spoken: —such a one as this, have we, as high-priest, who hath sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, —

The main point of what we're saying is this: We have just such a high priest who is seated at the right hand of God, who sits in majesty on his throne in heaven.

2 Of the Holy place, a public minister, and of the Real Tent, which, the Lord, pitched and not man.

He serves in the sanctuary, the true Tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not by human beings.

3 For, every high-priest, for the offering of both gifts and sacrifices, is constituted; whence it was necessary for, this one also, to have something which he might offer.

Since it's the responsibility of every high priest to offer gifts and sacrifices, this high priest must also have something to offer.

4 If, indeed, therefore, he had been on earth, he had not, in that case, even been a priest, since there are those who are offering the gifts, according to the law: —

Now if he was here on earth, he wouldn't be a priest at all, because there are already priests to present the offerings that the law requires.

5 Who, indeed, are rendering divine service, with a glimpse and shadow, of the heavenly things; even as Moses hath received intimation, when about to complete the tent, —For see! saith he—Thou shalt make all things according to the model which hath been pointed out to thee in the mount.

The place they serve is a copy, a mere shadow of what is in heaven. That's what God told Moses when he was going to set up the Tabernacle: “Be careful to make everything according to the blueprint you were shown on the mountain.”

6 But, now, hath he attained unto, a more distinguished public ministry, —by as much as of a better covenant also he is, mediator, which indeed, upon better promises, hath been legislated.

But Jesus has been given a far better ministry just as he is the one who mediates a far better agreed relationship between us and God, which is based on much better promises.

7 For, if, that first, had been, faultless, not, in that case, for a second, had there been sought, a place.

If that first agreement had been perfect, then a second wouldn't have been necessary.

8 For, finding fault with them, he saith—Lo! days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will conclude, for the house of Israel and the house of Judah, a covenant of a new sort:

Pointing out their failings, God told his people, “Pay attention, says the Lord, because the days are coming when I will make a new agreement with the people of Israel and Judah.

9 Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by their hand, to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt, —because, they, abode not in my covenant, and, I, disregarded them, saith the Lord.

This will not be like the agreement I made with their forefsathers when I led them by the hand out of the land of Egypt. For they didn't keep their part of the agreed relationship, so I gave up on them, says the Lord.

10 Because, this, is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord: —giving my laws into their understanding, upon their hearts also, will I inscribe them: and I will become their God, and, they, shall become my people;

The relationship I promise to the house of Israel is this: After that time, says the Lord, I will place my laws inside them, and write them in their minds. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

11 And in nowise shall they teach—every one his fellow-citizen, and every one his brother, saying, —Get to know the Lord! Because, all, shall know me, from the least unto the greatest of them;

No one will need to teach their neighbor, and no one will need to teach anyone in their family, telling them, ‘You ought to know the Lord.’ For everyone will know me, from the smallest to the greatest.

12 Because, propitious, will I be as to their unrighteousnesses, and, of their sins, in nowise will I be mindful, any more.

I will be merciful when they do wrong, and I will forget about their sins.”

13 In saying, Of a new sort, he hath made obsolete, the first; but, the thing that is becoming obsolete and aged, is near, disappearing!

By saying, “A new agreed relationship,” he makes the first agreement out-of-date. The one that's old and worn out has almost disappeared.