[1] Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service,
and an earthly sanctuary. [2] For there was a tent prepared, the first, in
which were the lampstand, the table, and the show bread; which is called
the Holy Place. [3] After the second veil, the tent which is called the
Holy of Holies, [4] having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the
covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding
the manna, Aaron`s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; [5] and
above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we
can`t now speak in detail. [6] Now these things having been thus prepared,
the priests go in continually into the first tent, accomplishing the
services, [7] but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year,
not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the
people. [8] The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the Holy
Place has not yet been revealed, while the first tent is yet standing; [9]
which is an illustration of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are
offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the
worshipper perfect; [10] being only (with meats and drinks and various
washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation. [11] But
Christ having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the
greater and more perfect tent, not made with hands, that is to say, not of
this creation, [12] nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but
through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having
obtained eternal redemption. [13] For if the blood of goats and bulls, and
the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to
the cleanness of the flesh: [14] how much more will the blood of Christ,
who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God,
cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? [15] For
this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken
place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first
covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal
inheritance. [16] For where a last will and testament is, there must of
necessity be the death of him who made it. [17] For a will is in force
where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it
lives. [18] Therefore even the first covenant has not been dedicated
without blood. [19] For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to
all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and
the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the
book itself and all the people, [20] saying, "This is the blood of the
covenant which God commanded toward you." [21] Moreover he sprinkled the
tent and all the vessels of the ministry in like manner with the blood.
[22] According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and
apart from shedding of blood there is no remission. [23] It was necessary
therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed
with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than
these. [24] For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands,
similar in pattern to the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear
before the face of God for us; [25] nor yet that he should offer himself
often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with
blood not his own, [26] or else he must have suffered often since the
foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the ages, he has been
revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. [27] Inasmuch as it
is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment, [28] so Christ
also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, will appear a
second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for
salvation.
