Hebrews, 9

1. Then verily the first [covenant] had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

1. The first covenant had rites and regulations. There was also a sanctuary - an earthly one.

2. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein [was] the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

2. A first room had the lampstand, the table and the bread of the presence. This room is called the Holy Place.

3. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

3. Behind the second curtain, there is a second sanctuary called the Most Holy Place,

4. Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

4. with the gold altar for the burning of incense, and the ark of the Covenant, fully covered with gold. The ark contained a golden jar holding the manna, Aaron's rod that had sprouted leaves and the two slabs of the covenant.

5. And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

5. Above the ark the two cherubim of glory overshadowed the Seat of Mercy. But we cannot here describe it in detail.

6. Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service [of God].

6. With everything arranged as described, the priests continually enter the first room to fulfill their ministry;

7. But into the second [went] the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and [for] the errors of the people:

7. but the High Priest enters only once a year the second one, and not without bringing the blood which he will offer for himself and for the sins of the people.

8. The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

8. By this, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the way into the inner sanctuary is not open as long as the first room still stands.

9. Which [was] a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

9. Here is a teaching by means of figures for the present age: the gifts and sacrifices presented to God cannot bring the people offering them to interior perfection.

10. [Which stood] only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed [on them] until the time of reformation.

10. These are no more than food, drink and different kinds of cleansing by water; all these are human regulations awaiting a reformation.

11. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

11. But now Christ has appeared as the high priest with regard to the good things of these new times. He passed through a sanctuary more noble and perfect, not made by hands, that is, not created.

12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].

12. He did not take with himself the blood of goats and bulls but his own blood, when he entered once and for all into this sanctuary after obtaining definitive redemption.

13. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

13. If the sprinkling of people defiled by sin with the blood of goats and bulls or with the ashes of a heifer provides them with exterior cleanness and holiness,

14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

14. how much more will it be with the blood of Christ? He, moved by the eternal Spirit, offered himself as an unblemished victim to God and his blood cleanses us from dead works, so that we may serve the living God.

15. And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

15. So Christ is the mediator of a new covenant or testament. His death made atonement for the sins committed under the old testament, and the promise is handed over to all who are called to the everlasting inheritance.

16. For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

16. With every testament it is necessary to wait until its author has died.

17. For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

17. For a testament infers death and has no value while the maker of it is still alive.

18. Whereupon neither the first [testament] was dedicated without blood.

18. That is why the first covenant was not ratified without blood.

19. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

19. Moses proclaimed to the assembled people all the commandments of the Law; then he took the blood of bulls and goats and mixed it with water, hyssop and red wool, and sprinkled the book of the Covenant and the people

20. Saying, This [is] the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

20. saying: This is the blood of the Covenant that God commanded you.

21. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

21. In the same way he sprinkled with blood the Sanctuary and all the objects of the ritual.

22. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

22. According to the Law, almost all cleansings have to be performed with blood; there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood.

23. [It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

23. It was necessary that mere copies of supernatural realities be purified, but now these realities need better sacrifices.

24. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

24. Christ did not enter some sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself. He is now in the presence of God on our behalf.

25. Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

25. He had not to offer himself many times, as the High Priest does: he who may return every year, because the blood is not his own.

26. For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

26. Otherwise he would have suffered many times from the creation of the world. But no; he manifested himself only now at the end of the ages, to take away sin by sacrifice,

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

27. and, as humans die only once and afterwards are judged,

28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

28. in the same way Christ sacrificed himself once to take away the sins of the multitude. There will be no further question of sin when he comes again to save those waiting for him.