Hebrews 8

1 And the sum concerning the things spoken of [is]: we have such a chief priest, who did sit down at the right hand of the throne of the greatness in the heavens,

Now the point of what we are saying is this: We have a high priest who has sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.

2 of the holy places a servant, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord did set up, and not man,

He is a servant in the holy place, the true tabernacle that the Lord, not a man, set up.

3 for every chief priest to offer both gifts and sacrifices is appointed, whence [it is] necessary for this one to have also something that he may offer;

For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary to have something to offer.

4 for if, indeed, he were upon earth, he would not be a priest — (there being the priests who are offering according to the law, the gifts,

Now if Christ were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the law.

5 who unto an example and shadow do serve of the heavenly things, as Moses hath been divinely warned, being about to construct the tabernacle, for 'See (saith He) thou mayest make all things according to the pattern that was shewn to thee in the mount;') —

They serve in a tabernacle that is a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. It is just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to construct the tabernacle: God said, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.”

6 and now he hath obtained a more excellent service, how much also of a better covenant is he mediator, which on better promises hath been sanctioned,

But now Christ has received a much better ministry, just as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which is based on better promises.

7 for if that first were faultless, a place would not have been sought for a second.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant.

8 For finding fault, He saith to them, 'Lo, days come, saith the Lord, and I will complete with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah, a new covenant,

For when God found fault with the people, he said, “See, the days are coming—says the Lord— when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day of My taking [them] by their hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt — because they did not remain in My covenant, and I did not regard them, saith the Lord, —

It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day that I took them by their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not carefully obey my covenant, and I disregarded them —says the Lord.

10 because this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord, giving My laws into their mind, and upon their hearts I will write them, and I will be to them for a God, and they shall be to Me for a people;

This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days —says the Lord. I will put my laws into their minds, and I will also write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

11 and they shall not teach each his neighbour, and each his brother, saying, Know thou the Lord, because they shall all know Me from the small one of them unto the great one of them,

They will not teach each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord.' For they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.

12 because I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawlessnesses I will remember no more;' —

For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will not remember any longer.”

13 in the saying 'new,' He hath made the first old, and what doth become obsolete and is old [is] nigh disappearing.

By calling this covenant “new,” he declared the first covenant to be old, and what has become old and obsolete will soon disappear.