Hebrews 10
1 Just like a shadow vaguely represents the thing that it is a shadow of, the laws that God [gave Moses] only poorly represent [MET] the good things that were to come later. Those laws were not all the good things themselves that God has promised. So, by offering the same kinds of sacrifices every year, people [PRS] who approach God can never become (perfect/all that God intends them to be).
For the law, having in a shadow of the destined good things, not the very image of the things, they can never, with the same sacrifices which year by year they offer evermore, make them who approach, perfect;
2 If God had removed the guilt for having sinned of those who brought the sacrifices, they would not feel that they were still guilty. So they would certainly have stopped offering those sacrifices! [RHQ]
Else would they not, in that case, have ceased being offered, by reason of those rendering the divine service having no further conscience at all of sins, being once for all purified?
3 But rather, the fact that they offer those sacrifices each year reminds them that they are still guilty for their sins.
But, in them, is a recalling to mind of sins, year by year,
4 The principle is that blood of animals such as bulls or goats can never remove the guilt of those who have sinned.
For it is impossible for blood of bulls and goats to be taking away sins.
5 So, as [Christ] was coming into the world, he spoke [to his Father about offering himself as a sacrifice for people’s sin. The Psalmist wrote this that Christ said]: It is not sacrifices and offerings that you [(sg)] have wanted, but you have prepared for me a body [to serve you].
Wherefore, coming into the world, he saith: Sacrifice and offering, thou willedst not, but, a body, hast thou fitted for me, —
6 Animals that are completely burned up as sacrifices have not pleased you, and [other sacrifices that atone] for those who have sinned have not pleased you.
In whole-burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sins, thou didst not delight:
7 Then [because of this], I said, “My God, (listen!/here I am!) I have come [here] in order to do what you want me [to do], [just like] has been written {as they have written} about me in the Scriptures.”
Then, said I—Lo! I am come, —in the heading of the scroll, it is written concerning me, —to do, O God, thy will.
8 First, [Christ] said, “It is not sacrifices and offerings and animals that [the priests] have completely burned up and other [offerings to atone for] those who have sinned that you have really wanted. They have not pleased you.” [Christ said that even though] those things were offered {they offered all those things} according to the laws [God gave Moses]!
Higher up, saying—Sacrifices, and offerings, and whole-burnt-offerings, and sacrifices for sins, thou willedst not, neither delightedst in, —the which, according to the law, are offered,
9 Then, [concerning his offering himself as a sacrifice to atone for people’s sin], he said, “Listen! I have come [here] to do what you want me [to do]!” In that way Christ got rid of the first [way of atoning for sin], in order to establish the second [way of atoning for] sin.
Then, hath he said—Lo! I am come! to do, thy will: —he taketh away the first, that, the second, he may establish:
10 Because of Jesus Christ [doing what God] wanted him to do, we have been dedicated to {[he] has set us apart for} God by his offering his own body only once [as a sacrifice, a sacrifice that will not need to be repeated].
By which will, we have been made holy, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all.
11 As every [Jewish] priest stands daily [in front of the altar], he performs rituals and offers the same kind of sacrifices that could never remove [the guilt from anyone who] sinned [MTY].
And, every priest, indeed, standeth daily publicly ministering, and the same sacrifices ofttimes offering, the which never can clear away sins;
12 But [Christ] offered a sacrifice that [will be adequate] forever, and he offered it only one time! Then he sat down [to rule] with God at the place of highest honor [MTY].
But this priest, having offered one sacrifice for sins evermore, sat down on the right hand of God:
13 From now on, he is waiting for [God] to completely subdue [all] Christ’s enemies [MTY].
As for the rest, waiting—until his foes be made his footstool;
14 By offering himself once, he has provided that those whom [God] has set apart will be eternally made (perfect/all that God intends them to be).
For, by one offering, hath he perfected for evermore, them who are being made holy.
15 The Holy Spirit also confirms to us [that this is true]. First the Lord says:
But even the Holy Spirit beareth us witness; for, after having said—
16 When the time [MTY] [when the first covenant that God made] with my people has ended, I will make a new covenant with them [MTY]. I will do like this for them: I will cause them to understand my laws and I will cause them to obey them (OR, enable them to know them sincerely).
This is the covenant which I will covenant unto them after these days, saith the Lord, —Giving my laws upon their hearts, upon their understandings also, will I inscribe them,
17 Then [the Lord said]: [I will forgive them for] their [DOU] sins, and I will [consider] that they are no longer [guilty for] having sinned.
[He] also [saith] —of their sins, and of their lawlessnesses, I will in nowise be mindful any more.
18 When [God] has forgiven someone’s sins, that person does not [need to make] any more offerings [to atone for his sin]!
But, wherever a remission of these is, there is, no further, offering, for sins.
19 So, my fellow believers, because we [trust in what Jesus accomplished when] his own blood [flowed for us], we can confidently go into [God’s very presence] that was [symbolized] by the very holy place [in the tent] [MTY].
Having therefore, brethren, freedom of speech for the entrance through the Holy place, by the blood of Jesus,
20 Jesus enabled us to go into [God’s presence] by making a new and effective way. [Specifically], he [offered] his body [as a sacrifice] for us [in order that nothing would stop us] from entering [God’s presence, just like] [MET] the curtain [of the very holy place prevented people from entering God’s presence].
Which entrance he hath consecrated for us, as a way recent and living, through the veil, that is, his flesh, —
21 Christ is a great priest [who rules over us, who are] God’s people [MTY].
And having a great priest over the house of God,
22 [Just like the priests] were sprinkled {[as Moses] sprinkled [the priests]} [with blood] [MET] to symbolize that they were no longer guilty for having sinned, we also no longer are [guilty for having done] evil. [Just like the priests ceremonially] washed their bodies with pure water [to prepare themselves to serve God], we are allowing [God] to continually make us pure. So, we [(inc)] must approach [God] sincerely by confidently trusting [in him].
Let us approach with a genuine heart, in full assurance of faith, having been sprinkled, as to our hearts, from an evil conscience, and bathed, as to our bodies, with pure water;
23 We must unwaveringly keep holding tight [to what we believe. Since God] faithfully [does all] he promised [to do], we must confidently expect [him to keep doing that].
Let us hold fast the confession of the hope without wavering, —for, faithful, is he that hath promised;
24 [Since God] faithfully [does all that] he promised [to do], let us consider how each of us can motivate other believers, in order that [believers] will love each other, and in order that each one will do good things.
And let us attentively consider one another, to provoke unto love and noble works, —
25 We must not stop assembling ourselves [to worship the Lord], as some people have done. Instead, each one of us must encourage/exhort other believers. [Let us do that] even more since we know that the day [that the Lord will return] [MTY] is near.
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, according to the custom of some, but exhorting, and by so much the more as this, by as much as ye behold, the day, drawing near.
26 [We(inc) must do those things], because if we deliberately and habitually sin after we have known the true [message about Christ], no other sacrifice will remove our guilt for having sinned in that way.
For, if, by choice, we be sinning, after the receiving of the full-knowledge of the truth, no longer, for sins, is there left over, a sacrifice,
27 Instead, we must fearfully expect that [God will] judge and angrily [punish] his enemies in a furious fire [MET].
But some fearful reception of judgment and fiery jealousy, about to devour the opposers.
28 Everyone who rejected the laws [that God gave] Moses was mercilessly killed when [at least] two or three people testified that they had done that.
Any one having set aside a law of Moses, apart from compassions, upon [the testimony of] two or three witnesses, dieth:
29 [That was severe punishment]. But [Christ] is (God’s Son/the man who is also God). His blood, by means of which [he put into effect] the new covenant, is sacred. Because of [Christ’s] [MTY] blood [flowing for us when he died], [God] freed us from our guilt. So, you can be sure [RHQ] that anyone who shows contempt for [those truths] and who insults the Spirit of God, the one who acts with kindness toward us in a way we do not deserve, deserves to be punished even worse than [those Israelis were punished] [MET]!
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be accounted worthy, who hath trampled underfoot the Son of God, and, the blood of the covenant, hath esteemed, a profane thing, by which he had been made holy, and, unto the Spirit of favour, hath offered wanton insult?
30 [We can be sure of that] (OR, [need to think about that carefully]) since we know that God said, “I myself will get revenge on those who sinned, and I will punish them as they deserve [DOU].” [Moses wrote], “The Lord will judge his people.”
For we know him that hath said—To me, belongeth avenging, I, will recompense; and again—The Lord will judge his people.
31 It will be a terrible thing if God who is all-powerful [MTY] seizes and punishes you [IDM]!
A fearful thing [it is] to fall into the hands of a Living God!
32 Recall previous times when you [first] understood [MET] [the message about Christ]. You endured a hard struggle, but you [continued to trust him] when you suffered [because you believed in Christ].
But be calling to mind the former days, in which, once ye were illuminated, a great combat of sufferings, ye endured; —
33 At times you were publicly insulted {people publicly insulted you} and you suffered {people persecuted you}. But you showed great concern for those who were treated like that.
Partly, indeed, because, both with reproaches and tribulations, ye were being made a spectacle, but, partly, because, into fellowship with them who were so involved, ye were brought; —
34 You not only were kind to those who were in prison [because they believed in Christ], but you also accepted it joyfully when [unbelievers] took away your possessions. You accepted it because you yourselves knew very well that you have eternal possessions [in heaven] that are much better [than those that they took from you]!
For, even with them who were in bonds, ye sympathised, and, unto the seizure of your goods, with joy, ye bade welcome, —knowing that ye have yourselves, for a better possession and an abiding.
35 So, do not become discouraged [when they cause you to suffer] {[you are persecuted]}, because [if you continue to trust in God], he will greatly reward you.
Do not, then, cast away your freedom of speech, —the which hath a great recompense.
36 You must patiently continue [to trust in him] in order that, because of your doing what God wants you to do, he will give you what he has promised.
For, of endurance, ye have need, in order that, the will of God having done, Ye may bear away, the promise.
37 [You must do that] since [a prophet wrote] in the Scriptures [that God said about the Messiah], In just a short time the one [I promised] would come will surely come; he will not delay coming.
For, yet a little while, how short! how short! The Coming One will be here, and will not tarry;
38 But those whom I have summoned, who [act] righteously, must continually live trusting in me, because if they, in a cowardly manner, cease [to trust in me], I (will not be pleased/will be angry) with them.
But, my righteous one, by faith, shall live, and, if he draw back, my soul delighteth not in him.
39 But we are not ones who in a cowardly manner stop [trusting in God], with the result that God will severely punish us. Instead, we are ones who trust in him, with the result that [God] will save us [SYN] eternally.
We, however, are not of a drawing back unto destruction, but, of faith, unto an acquisition of life.
