Epistula ad Hebraeos, 9

1. Habuit ergo et prius praecepta cultus et Sanctum huius saeculi.

1. Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary.

2. Tabernaculum enim praeparatum est primum, in quo inerat candelabrum et mensa et propositio panum, quod dicitur Sancta;

2. For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place.

3. post secundum autem velamentum, tabernaculum, quod dicitur Sancta Sanctorum,

3. Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies,

4. aureum habens turibulum et arcam testamenti circumtectam ex omni parte auro, in qua urna aurea habens manna et virga Aaron, quae fronduerat, et tabulae testamenti,

4. having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

5. superque eam cherubim gloriae obumbrantia propitiatorium; de quibus non est modo dicendum per singula.

5. above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6. His vero ita praeparatis, in prius quidem tabernaculum semper intrant sacerdotes sacrorum officia consummantes;

6. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties;

7. in secundum autem semel in anno solus pontifex, non sine sanguine, quem offert pro suis et populi ignorantiis;

7. but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.

8. hoc significante Spiritu Sancto, nondum propalatam esse sanctorum viam, adhuc priore tabernaculo habente statum;

8. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary is not yet opened as long as the outer tent is still standing

9. quae parabola est temporis instantis, iuxta quam munera et hostiae offeruntur, quae non possunt iuxta conscientiam perfectum facere servientem,

9. (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,

10. solummodo in cibis et in potibus et variis baptismis, quae sunt praecepta carnis usque ad tempus correctionis imposita.

10. but deal only with food and drink and various ablutions, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

11. Christus autem cum advenit pontifex futurorum bonorum, per amplius et perfectius tabernaculum, non manufactum, id est non huius creationis,

11. But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation)

12. neque per sanguinem hircorum et vitulorum sed per proprium sanguinem introivit semel in Sancta, aeterna redemptione inventa.

12. he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

13. Si enim sanguis hircorum et taurorum et cinis vitulae aspersus inquinatos sanctificat ad emundationem carnis,

13. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh,

14. quanto magis sanguis Christi, qui per Spiritum aeternum semetipsum obtulit immaculatum Deo, emundabit conscientiam nostram ab operibus mortuis ad serviendum Deo viventi.

14. how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

15. Et ideo novi testamenti mediator est, ut, morte intercedente in redemptionem earum praevaricationum, quae erant sub priore testamento, repromissionem accipiant, qui vocati sunt aeternae hereditatis.

15. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.

16. Ubi enim testamentum, mors necesse est afferatur testatoris;

16. For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.

17. testamentum autem in mortuis est confirmatum, nondum enim valet, dum vivit, qui testatus est.

17. For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.

18. Unde ne prius quidem sine sanguine dedicatum est;

18. Hence even the first covenant was not ratified without blood.

19. enuntiato enim omni mandato secundum legem a Moyse universo populo, accipiens sanguinem vitulorum et hircorum cum aqua et lana coccinea et hyssopo, ipsum librum et omnem populum aspersit

19. For when every commandment of the law had been declared 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. dicens: “Hic sanguis testamenti, quod mandavit ad vos Deus”;

20. saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you."

21. etiam tabernaculum et omnia vasa ministerii sanguine similiter aspersit.

21. And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship.

22. Et omnia paene in sanguine mundantur secundum legem, et sine sanguinis effusione non fit remissio.

22. Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

23. Necesse erat ergo figuras quidem caelestium his mundari, ipsa autem caelestia melioribus hostiis quam istis.

23. Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

24. Non enim in manufacta Sancta Christus introivit, quae sunt similitudo verorum, sed in ipsum caelum, ut appareat nunc vultui Dei pro nobis;

24. For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

25. neque ut saepe offerat semetipsum, quemadmodum pontifex intrat in Sancta per singulos annos in sanguine alieno.

25. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the Holy Place yearly with blood not his own;

26. Alioquin oportebat eum frequenter pati ab origine mundi; nunc autem semel in consummatione saeculorum ad destitutionem peccati per sacrificium sui manifestatus est.

26. for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27. Et quemadmodum statutum est hominibus semel mori, post hoc autem iudicium,

27. And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment,

28. sic et Christus, semel oblatus ad multorum auferenda peccata, secundo sine peccato apparebit exspectantibus se in salutem.

28. so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.