The Old and the New

9 Now even the first covenant had ^(A)regulations for divine worship and ^(B)the earthly sanctuary. ² For ^(C)a ^[a]tabernacle was equipped, the ^[b]outer sanctuary, in which were ^(D)the lampstand, ^(E)the table, and ^(F)the ^[c]sacred bread; this is called the Holy Place. ³ Behind ^(G)the second veil there was a ^[d]tabernacle which is called the ^(H)Most Holy Place, ⁴ having a golden ^[e](I)altar of incense and ^(J)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^(K)a golden jar holding the manna, ^(L)Aaron’s staff which budded, and ^(M)the tablets of the covenant; ⁵ and above it were the ^(N)cherubim of glory ^(O)overshadowing the ^[f]atoning cover; but about these things we cannot now speak in detail.

⁶ Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests ^(P)are continually entering the ^[g]outer ^[h]tabernacle, performing the divine worship, ⁷ but into ^(Q)the second, only ^(R)the high priest enters ^(S)once a year, ^(T)not without taking blood which he ^(U)offers for himself and for the ^[i](V)sins of the people committed in ignorance. ^8 (W)The Holy Spirit is signifying this, ^(X)that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the ^[j]outer tabernacle is still standing, ⁹ which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly ^(Y)both gifts and sacrifices are offered which ^(Z)cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, ¹⁰ since they relate only to ^(AA)food, ^(AB)drink, and various ^(AC)washings, ^(AD)regulations for the ^[k]body imposed until ^(AE)a time of reformation.

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a ^(AF)high priest of the ^(AG)good things ^[l]having come, He entered through ^(AH)the greater and more perfect ^[m]tabernacle, ^(AI)not made by hands, that is, ^(AJ)not of this creation; ¹² and not through ^(AK)the blood of goats and calves, but ^(AL)through His own blood, He ^(AM)entered the holy place ^(AN)once for all time, ^[n]having obtained ^(AO)eternal redemption. ¹³ For if ^(AP)the blood of goats and bulls, and ^(AQ)the ^[o]ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the ^[p]cleansing of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will ^(AR)the blood of Christ, who through ^[q](AS)the eternal Spirit ^(AT)offered Himself without blemish to God, ^(AU)cleanse your conscience from ^(AV)dead works to serve ^(AW)the living God?

¹⁵ For this reason ^(AX)He is the ^(AY)mediator of a ^(AZ)new 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 ^(BA)called may ^(BB)receive the promise of ^(BC)the eternal inheritance. ¹⁶ For where there is a ^[r]covenant, there must of necessity ^[s]be the death of the one who made it. ¹⁷ For a ^[t]covenant is valid only when people are dead, ^[u]for 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 ^(BD)spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, ^(BE)he took the ^(BF)blood of the calves and the goats, with ^(BG)water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both ^(BH)the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, “^(BI)This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” ²¹ And in the same way he ^(BJ)sprinkled both the ^[v]tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. ²² And ^(BK)almost all things are cleansed with blood, according to the Law, and ^(BL)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

²³ Therefore it was necessary for the ^(BM)copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these things, but ^(BN)the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ ^(BO)did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of ^(BP)the true one, but into ^(BQ)heaven itself, now ^(BR)to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵ nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as ^(BS)the high priest enters ^(BT)the Holy Place ^(BU)year by year with blood that is not his own. ²⁶ Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since ^(BV)the foundation of the world; but now ^(BW)once at ^(BX)the consummation of the ages He has been ^(BY)revealed to put away sin ^[w](BZ)by the sacrifice of Himself. ²⁷ And just as ^(CA)it is destined for people to die once, and after this ^(CB)comes judgment, ²⁸ so Christ also, having been ^(CC)offered once to ^(CD)bear the sins of many, will appear ^(CE)a second time for ^(CF)salvation ^(CG)without reference to sin, to those who ^(CH)eagerly await Him.

One Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient

10 For the Law, since it has only ^(CI)a shadow of ^(CJ)the good things to come and not the ^[x]form of those things itself, ^[y]can ^(CK)never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, ^(CL)make those who approach perfect. ² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had ^(CM)consciousness of sins? ³ But ^(CN)in ^[z]those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For it is ^(CO)impossible for the ^(CP)blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. ⁵ Therefore, ^(CQ)when He comes into the world, He says,

⁸ After saying above, “^(CW)Sacrifices and offerings and ^(CX)whole burnt offerings and offerings ^(CY)for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), ⁹ then He ^[aa]said, “^(CZ)Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰ By ^[ab]this will, we have been ^(DA)sanctified through ^(DB)the offering of ^(DC)the body of Jesus Christ ^(DD)once for all time.

¹¹ Every priest stands daily ministering and ^(DE)offering time after time the same sacrifices, which ^(DF)can never take away sins; ¹² but He, having offered one sacrifice ^(DG)for ^[ac]sins ^(DH)for all time, ^(DI)sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ waiting from that time onward ^(DJ)until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. ¹⁴ For by one offering He has ^(DK)perfected ^(DL)for all time those who are ^[ad]sanctified. ¹⁵ And ^(DM)the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

He then says,

¹⁸ Now where there is forgiveness of these things, an offering for sin is no longer required.

A New and Living Way

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we ^(DP)have confidence to ^(DQ)enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by ^(DR)a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through ^(DS)the veil, that is, through His flesh, ²¹ and since we have ^(DT)a great priest ^(DU)over the house of God, ²² let’s ^(DV)approach God with a ^[ae]sincere heart in ^(DW)full assurance of faith, having our hearts ^(DX)sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies ^(DY)washed with pure water. ²³ Let’s hold firmly to the ^(DZ)confession of our ^(EA)hope without wavering, for ^(EB)He who promised is faithful; ²⁴ and let’s consider how ^(EC)to ^[af]encourage one another in love and ^(ED)good deeds, ²⁵ not abandoning our own ^(EE)meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but ^(EF)encouraging one another; and all the more as you see ^(EG)the day drawing near.

Christ or Judgment

²⁶ For if we go on ^(EH)sinning willfully after receiving ^(EI)the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a terrifying expectation of ^(EJ)judgment and ^(EK)the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. ^28 (EL)Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ^29 (EM)How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve ^(EN)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean ^(EO)the blood of the covenant ^(EP)by which he was sanctified, and has ^(EQ)insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “^(ER)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “^(ES)The Lord will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a ^(ET)terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the ^(EU)living God.

³² But remember ^(EV)the former days, ^[ag]when, after being ^(EW)enlightened, you endured a great ^(EX)conflict of sufferings, ³³ partly by being ^(EY)made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming ^[ah](EZ)companions with those who were so treated. ³⁴ For you ^(FA)showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted ^(FB)joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves ^(FC)a better and lasting possession. ³⁵ Therefore, do not throw away your ^(FD)confidence, which has a great ^(FE)reward. ³⁶ For you have need of ^(FF)endurance, so that when you have ^(FG)done the will of God, you may ^(FH)receive ^[ai]what was promised.

³⁹ But ^[aj]we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of the soul.

The Triumphs of Faith

11 Now faith is the ^(FL)certainty of things ^[ak](FM)hoped for, a ^[al]proof of ^(FN)things not seen. ² For by it the ^(FO)people of old ^[am](FP)gained approval.

³ By faith we understand that the ^[an](FQ)world has been created ^(FR)by the word of God so that what is seen ^(FS)has not been made out of things that are visible. ⁴ By faith ^(FT)Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was ^(FU)attested to be righteous, God testifying ^[ao]about his ^(FV)gifts, and through ^[ap]faith, though ^(FW)he is dead, he still speaks. ⁵ By faith ^(FX)Enoch was taken up so that he would not ^(FY)see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God. ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who ^(FZ)comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. ⁷ By faith ^(GA)Noah, being ^(GB)warned by God about ^(GC)things not yet seen, ^[aq](GD)in reverence ^(GE)prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of ^(GF)the righteousness which is according to faith.

⁸ By faith ^(GG)Abraham, when he was called, obeyed ^[ar]by going out to a place which he was to ^(GH)receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he lived as a stranger in ^(GI)the land of promise, as in a foreign land, ^(GJ)living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, ^(GK)fellow heirs of the same promise; ¹⁰ for he was looking for ^(GL)the city which has ^(GM)foundations, ^(GN)whose architect and builder is God. ¹¹ By faith even ^(GO)Sarah herself received ^[as]ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him ^(GP)faithful who had promised. ¹² Therefore even from one man, and ^(GQ)one who was as good as dead ^[at]at that, there were born descendants who were ^(GR)just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.

^13 (GS)All these died in faith, ^(GT)without receiving the promises, but ^(GU)having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and ^(GV)having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ¹⁴ For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. ¹⁵ And indeed if they had been ^[au]thinking of that country which they left, ^(GW)they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a ^(GX)heavenly one. Therefore ^(GY)God is not ^[av]ashamed to be ^(GZ)called their God; for ^(HA)He has prepared a city for them.

¹⁷ By faith ^(HB)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and the one who had ^(HC)received the promises was offering up his ^[aw]only son; ¹⁸ it was he to whom it was said, “^(HD)Through Isaac your ^[ax]descendants shall be named.” ^19 [ay]He considered that ^(HE)God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back ^[az]as a ^[ba](HF)type. ²⁰ By faith ^(HG)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. ²¹ By faith ^(HH)Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and ^(HI)worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. ²² By faith ^(HJ)Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

²³ By faith ^(HK)Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the ^(HL)king’s edict. ²⁴ By faith Moses, ^(HM)when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to ^(HN)endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, ^26 (HO)considering the ^[bb]reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the ^(HP)reward. ²⁷ By faith he ^(HQ)left Egypt, not ^(HR)fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though ^(HS)seeing Him who is unseen. ²⁸ By faith he ^[bc](HT)kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that ^(HU)the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. ²⁹ By faith they ^(HV)passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were ^[bd]drowned.

³⁰ By faith ^(HW)the walls of Jericho fell down ^[be](HX)after the Israelites had marched around them for seven days. ³¹ By faith the prostitute ^(HY)Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies ^[bf]in peace.

³² And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of ^(HZ)Gideon, ^(IA)Barak, ^(IB)Samson, ^(IC)Jephthah, of ^(ID)David and ^(IE)Samuel and the prophets, ³³ who by faith ^(IF)conquered kingdoms, ^(IG)performed acts of righteousness, ^(IH)obtained promises, ^(II)shut the mouths of lions, ^34 (IJ)quenched the power of fire, ^(IK)escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, ^(IL)became mighty in war, ^(IM)put foreign armies to flight. ^35 (IN)Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their ^[bg]release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; ³⁶ and others ^[bh]experienced mocking and flogging, and further, ^(IO)chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were ^(IP)stoned, they were sawn in two, ^[bi]they were tempted, they were ^(IQ)put to death with the sword; they went about ^(IR)in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ^(IS)tormented ³⁸ (people of whom the world was not worthy), ^(IT)wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes ^[bj]in the ground.

³⁹ And all these, having ^(IU)gained approval through their faith, ^(IV)did not receive ^[bk]what was promised, ⁴⁰ because God had ^[bl]provided ^(IW)something better for us, so that ^(IX)apart from us they would not be made perfect.

Jesus, the Example

12 Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s ^(IY)rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s ^(IZ)run with ^(JA)endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking only at Jesus, the ^[bm](JB)originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him ^(JC)endured the cross, ^(JD)despising the shame, and has ^(JE)sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ For ^(JF)consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary ^[bn](JG)and lose heart.

A Father’s Discipline

^4 (JH)You have not yet resisted ^[bo](JI)to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; ⁵ and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,

⁷ It is for discipline that you endure; ^(JN)God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ But if you are without discipline, ^(JO)of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we had ^[bp]earthly fathers to discipline us, and we ^(JP)respected them; shall we not much more be subject to ^(JQ)the Father of ^[bq]spirits, and ^(JR)live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, ^(JS)so that we may share His holiness. ^11 (JT)For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the ^(JU)peaceful fruit of righteousness.

¹² Therefore, ^[br](JV)strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, ¹³ and ^(JW)make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is impaired may not be dislocated, but rather ^(JX)be healed.

^14 (JY)Pursue peace with all people, and the ^(JZ)holiness without which no one will ^(KA)see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one ^(KB)comes short of the grace of God; that no ^(KC)root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become ^(KD)defiled; ¹⁶ that there be no ^(KE)sexually immoral or ^(KF)godless person like Esau, ^(KG)who sold his own birthright for a single meal. ¹⁷ For you know that even afterward, ^(KH)when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

Contrast of Sinai and Zion

^18 (KI)For you have not come to ^(KJ)a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, ¹⁹ and to the ^(KK)blast of a trumpet and the ^(KL)sound of words, which sound was such that those who heard ^(KM)begged that no further word be spoken to them. ²⁰ For they could not ^[bs]cope with the command, “^(KN)If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” ²¹ And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “^(KO)I am terrified and trembling.” ²² But ^(KP)you have come to Mount Zion and to ^(KQ)the city of ^(KR)the living God, ^(KS)the heavenly Jerusalem, and to ^(KT)myriads of ^[bt]angels, ²³ to the general assembly and ^(KU)church of the firstborn who ^(KV)are enrolled in heaven, and to God, ^(KW)the Judge of all, and to the ^(KX)spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ and to Jesus, the ^(KY)mediator of a new covenant, and to the ^(KZ)sprinkled blood, which speaks better than ^(LA)the blood of Abel.

The Unshaken Kingdom

^25 (LB)See to it that you do not refuse Him who is ^(LC)speaking. For ^(LD)if those did not escape when they ^(LE)refused him who ^(LF)warned them on earth, ^[bu]much less will we escape who turn away from Him who ^(LG)warns us from heaven. ²⁶ And ^(LH)His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “^(LI)Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” ²⁷ This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes ^(LJ)the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. ²⁸ Therefore, since we receive a ^(LK)kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s ^[bv]show gratitude, by which we may ^(LL)offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; ²⁹ for ^(LM)our God is a consuming fire.

The Changeless Christ

13 Let ^(LN)love of the brothers and sisters continue. ² Do not neglect ^(LO)hospitality to strangers, for by this some have ^(LP)entertained angels without knowing it. ^3 (LQ)Remember ^(LR)the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are badly treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. ^4 (LS)Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; ^(LT)for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. ⁵ Make sure that your character is ^(LU)free from the love of money, ^(LV)being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “^(LW)I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,” ⁶ so that we confidently say,

⁷ Remember ^(LY)those who led you, who spoke ^(LZ)the word of God to you; and considering the ^[bw]result of their way of life, ^(MA)imitate their faith. ^8 (MB)Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever. ^9 (MC)Do not be misled by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to ^(MD)be strengthened by grace, not by ^(ME)foods, ^(MF)through which those who ^[bx]were so occupied were not benefited. ¹⁰ We have an altar ^(MG)from which those ^(MH)who serve the ^[by]tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹ For ^(MI)the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holy Place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp. ¹² Therefore Jesus also suffered ^(MJ)outside the gate, ^(MK)that He might sanctify the people ^(ML)through His own blood. ¹³ So then, let us go out to Him outside the camp, ^(MM)bearing His reproach. ¹⁴ For here ^(MN)we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking ^(MO)the city which is to come.

God-pleasing Sacrifices

^15 (MP)Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a ^(MQ)sacrifice of praise to God, that is, ^(MR)the fruit of lips praising His name. ¹⁶ And do not neglect doing good and ^(MS)sharing, for ^(MT)with such sacrifices God is pleased.

^17 (MU)Obey your leaders and submit to them—for ^(MV)they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they may do this with joy, not ^[bz]groaning; for this would be unhelpful for you.

^18 (MW)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a ^(MX)good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. ¹⁹ And I urge you all the more to do this, ^(MY)so that I may be restored to you more quickly.

Benediction

²⁰ Now may ^(MZ)the God of peace, who ^(NA)brought up from the dead the ^(NB)great Shepherd of the sheep ^[ca]through ^(NC)the blood of the ^(ND)eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, ^21 (NE)equip you in every good thing to do His will, ^(NF)working in us that ^(NG)which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, ^(NH)to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

²² But ^(NI)I urge you, ^(NJ)brothers and sisters, ^[cb]listen patiently to ^[cc]this ^(NK)word of exhortation, for ^(NL)I have written to you briefly. ²³ Know that ^(NM)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you. ²⁴ Greet ^(NN)all of your leaders and all the ^[cd](NO)saints. Those from ^(NP)Italy greet you.

^25 (NQ)Grace be with you all.