Hebrews 9

The Old and the New

1Now even the first covenant had 1regulations for divine worship and 2the earthly sanctuary. 2For 3a 4tabernacle was equipped, the 5outer sanctuary, in which were 6the lampstand, 7the table, and 8the 9sacred bread; this is called the Holy Place. 3Behind 10the second veil there was a 11tabernacle which is called the 12Most Holy Place, 4having a golden 1314altar of incense and 15the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was 16a golden jar holding the manna, 17Aaron’s staff which budded, and 18the tablets of the covenant; 5and above it were the 19cherubim of glory 20overshadowing the 21atoning cover; but about these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests 22are continually entering the 23outer 24tabernacle, performing the divine worship, 7but into 25the second, only 26the high priest enters 27once a year, 28not without taking blood which he 29offers for himself and for the 3031sins of the people committed in ignorance. 832The Holy Spirit is signifying this, 33that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the 34outer tabernacle is still standing, 9which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly 35both gifts and sacrifices are offered which 36cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10since they relate only to 37food, 38drink, and various 39washings, 40regulations for the 41body imposed until 42a time of reformation.

11But when Christ appeared as a 43high priest of the 44good things 45having come, He entered through 46the greater and more perfect 47tabernacle, 48not made by hands, that is, 49not of this creation; 12and not through 50the blood of goats and calves, but 51through His own blood, He 52entered the holy place 53once for all time, 54having obtained 55eternal redemption. 13For if 56the blood of goats and bulls, and 57the 58ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the 59cleansing of the flesh, 14how much more will 60the blood of Christ, who through 6162the eternal Spirit 63offered Himself without blemish to God, 64cleanse your conscience from 65dead works to serve 66the living God?

15For this reason 67He is the 68mediator of a 69new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the violations that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been 70called may 71receive the promise of 72the eternal inheritance. 16For where there is a 73covenant, there must of necessity 74be the death of the one who made it. 17For a 75covenant is valid only when people are dead, 76for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. 19For when every commandment had been 77spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, 78he took the 79blood of the calves and the goats, with 80water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both 81the book itself and all the people, 20saying, “82This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” 21And in the same way he 83sprinkled both the 84tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22And 85almost all things are cleansed with blood, according to the Law, and 86without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23Therefore it was necessary for the 87copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these things, but 88the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ 89did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of 90the true one, but into 91heaven itself, now 92to appear in the presence of God for us; 25nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as 93the high priest enters 94the Holy Place 95year by year with blood that is not his own. 26Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since 96the foundation of the world; but now 97once at 98the consummation of the ages He has been 99revealed to put away sin 100101by the sacrifice of Himself. 27And just as 102it is destined for people to die once, and after this 103comes judgment, 28so Christ also, having been 104offered once to 105bear the sins of many, will appear 106a second time for 107salvation 108without reference to sin, to those who 109eagerly await Him.