Hebrews 9

1 Now even the first Covenant had regulations for divine worship, and had also its sanctuary--a sanctuary belonging to this world.

The former indeed had also justifications of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

2 For a sacred tent was constructed--the outer one, in which were the lamp and the table and the presented loaves; and this is called the Holy place.

For there was a tabernacle made the first, wherein were the candlesticks, and the table, and the setting forth of loaves, which is called the holy.

3 And behind the second veil was a sacred tent called the Holy of holies.

And after the second veil, the tabernacle, which is called the holy of holies:

4 This had a censer of gold, and the ark of the Covenant lined with gold and completely covered with gold, and in it were a gold vase which held the manna, and Aaron's rod which budded and the tables of the Covenant.

Having a golden censer, and the ark of the testament covered about on every part with gold, in which was a golden pot that had manna, and the rod of Aaron, that had blossomed, and the tables of the testament.

5 And above the ark were the Cherubim denoting God's glorious presence and overshadowing the Mercy-seat. But I cannot now speak about all these in detail.

And over it were the cherubims of glory overshadowing the propitiatory: of which it is not needful to speak now particularly.

6 These arrangements having long been completed, the priests, when conducting the divine services, continually enter the outer tent.

Now these things being thus ordered, into the first tabernacle the priests indeed always entered, accomplishing the offices of sacrifices.

7 But into the second, the High Priest goes only on one day of the year, and goes alone, taking with him blood, which he offers on his own behalf and on account of the sins which the people have ignorantly committed.

But into the second, the high priest alone, once a year: not without blood, which he offereth for his own, and the people’s ignorance:

8 And the lesson which the Holy Spirit teaches is this--that the way into the true Holy place is not yet open so long as the outer tent still remains in existence.

The Holy Ghost signifying this, that the way into the holies was not yet made manifest, whilst the former tabernacle was yet standing.

9 And this is a figure--for the time now present--answering to which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, unable though they are to give complete freedom from sin to him who ministers.

Which is a parable of the time present: according to which gifts and sacrifices are offered, which can not, as to the conscience, make him perfect that serveth, only in meats and in drinks,

10 For their efficacy depends only on meats and drinks and various washings, ceremonies pertaining to the body and imposed until a time of reformation.

And divers washings, and justices of the flesh laid on them until the time of correction.

11 But Christ appeared as a High Priest of the blessings that are soon to come by means of the greater and more perfect Tent of worship, a tent which has not been built with hands--that is to say does not belong to this material creation--

But Christ, being come an high priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hand, that is, not of this creation:

12 and once for all entered the Holy place, taking with Him not the blood of goats and calves, but His own blood, and thus procuring eternal redemption for us. (aiōnios g166)

Neither by the blood of goats, or of calves, but by his own blood, entered once into the holies, 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 contracted defilement make them holy so as to bring about ceremonial purity,

For if the blood of goats and of oxen, and the ashes of an heifer being sprinkled, sanctify such as are defiled, to the cleansing of the flesh:

14 how much more certainly shall the blood of Christ, who strengthened by the eternal Spirit offered Himself to God, free from blemish, purify your consciences from lifeless works for you to serve the ever-living God? (aiōnios g166)

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who by the Holy Ghost offered himself unspotted unto God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God? (aiōnios g166)

15 And because of this He is the negotiator of a new Covenant, in order that, since a life has been given in atonement for the offences committed under the first Covenant, those who have been called may receive the eternal inheritance which has been promised to them. (aiōnios g166)

And therefore he is the mediator of the new testament: that by means of his death, for the redemption of those transgressions, which were under the former testament, they that are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (aiōnios g166)

16 For where there is a legal 'will,' there must also be a death brought forward in evidence--the death of him who made it.

For where there is a testament, the death of the testator must of necessity come in.

17 And a will is only of force in the case of a deceased person, being never of any avail so long as he who made it lives.

For a testament is of force, after men are dead: otherwise it is as yet of no strength, whilst the testator liveth.

18 Accordingly we find that the first Covenant was not inaugurated without blood.

Whereupon neither was the first indeed dedicated without blood.

19 For when Moses had proclaimed to all the people every commandment contained in the Law, he took the blood of the calves and of the goats and with them water, scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,

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

20 saying, "This is the blood which confirms the Covenant that God has made binding upon you."

Saying: This is the blood of the testament, which God hath enjoined unto you.

21 And in the same way he also sprinkled blood upon the Tent of worship and upon all the vessels used in the ministry.

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

22 Indeed we may almost say that in obedience to the Law everything is sprinkled with blood, and that apart from the outpouring of blood there is no remission of sins.

And almost all things, according to the law, are cleansed with blood: and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

23 It was needful therefore that the copies of the things in Heaven should be cleansed in this way, but that the heavenly things themselves should be cleansed with more costly sacrifices.

It is necessary therefore that the patterns of heavenly things should be cleansed with these: but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

24 For not into a Holy place built by men's hands--a mere copy of the reality--did Christ enter, but He entered Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

For Jesus is not entered into the holies made with hands, the patterns of the true: but into heaven itself, that he may appear now in the presence of God for us.

25 Nor did He enter for the purpose of many times offering Himself in sacrifice, just as the High Priest enters the Holy place, year after year, taking with him blood not his own.

Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holies, every year with the blood of others:

26 In that case Christ would have needed to suffer many times, from the creation of the world onwards; but as a matter of fact He has appeared once for all, at the Close of the Ages, in order to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (aiōn g165)

For then he ought to have suffered often from the beginning of the world: but now once at the end of ages, he hath appeared for the destruction of sin, by the sacrifice of himself. (aiōn g165)

27 And since it is reserved for all mankind once to die, and afterwards to be judged;

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment:

28 so the Christ also, having been once offered in sacrifice in order that He might bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, separated from sin, to those who are eagerly expecting Him, to make their salvation complete.

So also Christ was offered once to exhaust the sins of many; the second time he shall appear without sin to them that expect him unto salvation.