Hebrews 9:1–10

The Earthly Holy Place

9Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and ^man earthly place of holiness. ²For ⁿa tent¹ was prepared, the first section, in which were ^othe lampstand and ^pthe table and ^qthe bread of the Presence.² It is called the Holy Place. ³Behind ^rthe second curtain was a second section³ called the Most Holy Place, ⁴having the golden ^saltar of incense and ^tthe ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^ua golden urn holding the manna, and ^vAaron’s staff that budded, and ^wthe tablets of the covenant. ⁵Above it were ^xthe cherubim of glory overshadowing ^ythe mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

⁶These preparations having thus been made, ^zthe priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, ⁷but into the second only ^athe high priest goes, and he but ^aonce a year, and not without taking blood, ^bwhich he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. ⁸By this the Holy Spirit indicates that ^cthe way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing ⁹(which is symbolic for the present age).⁴ According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered ^dthat cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, ¹⁰but deal only with ^efood and drink and ^fvarious washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.