Chapter 9

The Old and the New

1 Now even the first covenant had aregulations of divine worship and bthe earthly sanctuary.

2 For there was aa 1tabernacle prepared, the 2outer one, in which were bthe lampstand and cthe table and dthe 3sacred bread; this is called the holy place.

3 Behind athe second veil there was a 1tabernacle which is called the bHoly of Holies,

4 having a golden 1aaltar of incense and bthe ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ca golden jar holding the manna, and dAaron’s rod which budded, and ethe tables of the covenant;

5 and above it were the acherubim of glory bovershadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests aare continually entering the 1outer 2tabernacle performing the divine worship,

7 but into athe second, only bthe high priest enters conce a year, dnot without taking blood, which he eoffers for himself and for the 1fsins of the people committed in ignorance.

8 aThe Holy Spirit is signifying this, bthat the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the 1outer tabernacle is still standing,

9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly aboth gifts and sacrifices are offered which bcannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience,

10 since they relate only to afood and bdrink and various cwashings, dregulations for the 1body imposed until ea time of reformation.

11 But when Christ appeared as a ahigh priest of the bgood things 1to come, He entered through cthe greater and more perfect 2tabernacle, dnot made with hands, that is to say, enot of this creation;

12 and not through athe blood of goats and calves, but bthrough His own blood, He centered the holy place donce for all, 1having obtained eeternal redemption.

13 For if athe blood of goats and bulls and bthe ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the 1cleansing of the flesh,

14 how much more will athe blood of Christ, who through 1bthe eternal Spirit coffered Himself without blemish to God, dcleanse 2your conscience from edead works to serve fthe living God?

15 For this reason aHe is the bmediator of a cnew covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been dcalled may ereceive the promise of fthe eternal inheritance.

16 For where a 1covenant is, there must of necessity 2be the death of the one who made it.

17 For a 1covenant is valid only when 2men are dead, 3for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.

18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood.

19 For when every commandment had been aspoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, bhe took the cblood of the calves and the goats, with dwater and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both ethe book itself and all the people,

20 saying, “aThis is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.”

21 And in the same way he asprinkled both the 1tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood.

22 And according to the 1Law, one may aalmost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and bwithout shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23 Therefore it was necessary for the acopies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but athe heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

24 For Christ adid not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of bthe true one, but into cheaven itself, now dto appear in the presence of God for us;

25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as athe high priest enters bthe holy place ayear by year with blood that is not his own.

26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since athe foundation of the world; but now bonce at cthe consummation of the ages He has been dmanifested to put away sin 1eby the sacrifice of Himself.

27 And inasmuch as ait is 1appointed for men to die once and after this bcomes judgment,

28 so Christ also, having been aoffered once to bbear the sins of many, will appear ca second time for dsalvation ewithout reference to sin, to those who feagerly await Him.