1 The Old Covenant Now even the firstcovenanthad requirements of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.
2 For there was a tabernacle prepared: the first part, in whichwerethe lampstand and the table and the 9:2 Lit loaves of presentation sacred bread, which is called the holy place.
3 And behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
4 having a golden 9:4Or censer altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tablets of the covenant.
5 And above itwerethe cherubim of glory overshadowing the 9:5Or propitiatory seat, place of atonement mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the first partof thetabernacle performing the divine worship,
7 but into the second, only the high priestentersonce a year, not withouttakingblood, which he offers for himself and for the 9:7 Lit ignorance of the people sins of the people committed in ignorance.
8 The Holy Spiritisindicating this, that the way into the holy places has not yet been manifested while that first partof thetabernacle is still standing,
9 whichisa symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience,
10 since theyrelateonly to food and drink and various washings, requirements for the 9:10Lit flesh body imposed until a time of reformation.The New Covenant
11 But when Christ appearedasa high priest of the good things 9:11Two early mss that have come to come,He enteredthrough the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,
12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy places once for all, 9:12Or obtaining having obtained eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the 9:13Lit purity cleansing of the flesh,
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through 9:14Or His eternal spirit the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse 9:14One early ms our your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the trespasses that werecommittedunder the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
16 For where a 9:16 Or testament covenant is, there must of necessity 9:16 Lit be brought be the death of the one who made it.
17 For a 9:17Or testament covenant is validonlywhen 9:17Lit over the dead men are dead, 9:17Two early mss for is it then...lives? for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.
18 Therefore not even the firstcovenantwas inaugurated without blood.
19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant whichGod commanded you.”
21 And in the same way, both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled with the blood.
22 And according to the 9:22Or Law, almost all things Law,one mayalmostsay, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ did not enter holy places made with hands,merecopies of the true ones, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy places year by year with blood that is not his own.
26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin 9:26Or by His sacrifice by the sacrifice of Himself.
27 And inasmuch as it is 9:27Lit laid up appointed for men to die once and after thiscomesjudgment,
28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation withoutreference tosin, to those who eagerly await Him.