Hebrews 9:1–10

The Earthly and the Heavenly Sanctuaries

⁹Now^e the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. ²For a tent^f was constructed, the first one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the Presence;^g this is called the holy place.^{* 3}Behind the second curtain was a tent^h called the holy of holies.^{* 4}In it stood the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which there were a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;^{* 5}above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the cover of the ark.ⁱ Of these things we cannot speak now in detail.^*

⁶These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the first tent^j to carry out their ritual duties, ⁷but only the high priest goes into the second, and he but once a year and not without taking the blood that he offers for himself and for the sins committed unintentionally by the people.^{* 8}By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary has not yet been disclosed as long as the first tent^k is still standing.^{* 9}This is a symbol^l of the present time, indicating that gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper^{* 10}but deal only with food and drink and various baptisms, regulations for the body imposed until the time comes to set things right.^*