Προς Εβραιους 8

1 κεφαλαιον δε επι τοις λεγομενοις τοιουτον εχομεν αρχιερεα ος εκαθισεν εν δεξια του θρονου της μεγαλωσυνης εν τοις ουρανοις

To sum up what I have been saying: Such is the high priest that we have, one who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God’s Majesty in heaven,

2 των αγιων λειτουργος και της σκηνης της αληθινης ην επηξεν ο κυριος και ουκ ανθρωπος

where he serves in the sanctuary, in that true tent set up by the Lord and not by man.

3 πας γαρ αρχιερευς εις το προσφερειν δωρα τε και θυσιας καθισταται οθεν αναγκαιον εχειν τι και τουτον ο προσενεγκη

Every high priest is appointed for the purpose of offering gifts and sacrifices to God; it follows, therefore, that this high priest must have some offering to make.

4 ει μεν γαρ ην επι γης ουδ αν ην ιερευς οντων των ιερεων των προσφεροντων κατα τον νομον τα δωρα

If he were, however, still on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts as the Law directs.

5 οιτινες υποδειγματι και σκια λατρευουσιν των επουρανιων καθως κεχρηματισται μωυσης μελλων επιτελειν την σκηνην ορα γαρ φησιν ποιησεις παντα κατα τον τυπον τον δειχθεντα σοι εν τω ορει

(These priests, it is true, are engaged in a service which is only a copy and shadow of the heavenly realities, as is shown by the directions given to Moses when he was about to construct the tent. ‘Look to it,’ are the words, ‘that you make every part in accordance with the pattern shown you on the mountain.’)

6 νυνι δε διαφορωτερας τετυχεν λειτουργιας οσω και κρειττονος εστιν διαθηκης μεσιτης ητις επι κρειττοσιν επαγγελιαις νενομοθετηται

But Jesus, as we see, has obtained a ministry as far excelling theirs, as the covenant of which he is the intermediary, based, as it is, on better promises, excels the former covenant.

7 ει γαρ η πρωτη εκεινη ην αμεμπτος ουκ αν δευτερας εζητειτο τοπος

If that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second.

8 μεμφομενος γαρ αυτοις λεγει ιδου ημεραι ερχονται λεγει κυριος και συντελεσω επι τον οικον ισραηλ και επι τον οικον ιουδα διαθηκην καινην

But, finding fault with the people, God says – ‘“A time is coming,” says the Lord, “When I will ratify a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah –

9 ου κατα την διαθηκην ην εποιησα τοις πατρασιν αυτων εν ημερα επιλαβομενου μου της χειρος αυτων εξαγαγειν αυτους εκ γης αιγυπτου οτι αυτοι ουκ ενεμειναν εν τη διαθηκη μου καγω ημελησα αυτων λεγει κυριος

Not such a covenant as I made with their ancestors on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not abide by their covenant with me, and therefore I disregarded them,” says the Lord.

10 οτι αυτη η διαθηκη ην διαθησομαι τω οικω ισραηλ μετα τας ημερας εκεινας λεγει κυριος διδους νομους μου εις την διανοιαν αυτων και επι καρδιας αυτων επιγραψω αυτους και εσομαι αυτοις εις θεον και αυτοι εσονται μοι εις λαον

“This is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will impress my laws on their minds, and will inscribe them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.

11 και ου μη διδαξωσιν εκαστος τον πολιτην αυτου και εκαστος τον αδελφον αυτου λεγων γνωθι τον κυριον οτι παντες ειδησουσιν με απο μικρου αυτων εως μεγαλου αυτων

There will be no need for anyone to instruct their fellow citizen, or for a person to say to their relatives ‘Learn to know the Lord’; for everyone will know me, from the lowest to the highest.

12 οτι ιλεως εσομαι ταις αδικιαις αυτων και των αμαρτιων αυτων και των ανομιων αυτων ου μη μνησθω ετι

For I will be merciful to their wrongdoings, and I will no longer remember their sins.”’

13 εν τω λεγειν καινην πεπαλαιωκεν την πρωτην το δε παλαιουμενον και γηρασκον εγγυς αφανισμου

By speaking of a new covenant, God at once renders the former covenant obsolete; and whatever becomes obsolete and loses its force is virtually annulled.