Hebrews 9-10

English Standard Version

The Earthly Holy Place

9 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and ^(A)an earthly place of holiness. ² For ^(B)a tent^[a] was prepared, the first section, in which were ^(C)the lampstand and ^(D)the table and ^(E)the bread of the Presence.^[b] It is called the Holy Place. ³ Behind ^(F)the second curtain was a second section^[c] called the Most Holy Place, ⁴ having the golden ^(G)altar of incense and ^(H)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^(I)a golden urn holding the manna, and ^(J)Aaron's staff that budded, and ^(K)the tablets of the covenant. ⁵ Above it were ^(L)the cherubim of glory overshadowing ^(M)the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

⁶ These preparations having thus been made, ^(N)the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, ⁷ but into the second only ^(O)the high priest goes, and he but ^(P)once a year, and not without taking blood, ^(Q)which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. ⁸ By this the Holy Spirit indicates that ^(R)the 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).^[d] According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered ^(S)that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, ¹⁰ but deal only with ^(T)food and drink and ^(U)various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a high priest ^(V)of the good things that have come,^[e] then through ^(W)the greater and more perfect tent (^(X)not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) ¹² he ^(Y)entered ^(Z)once for all into the holy places, not by means of ^(AA)the blood of goats and calves but ^(AB)by means of his own blood, ^(AC)thus securing an eternal redemption. ¹³ For if ^(AD)the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with ^(AE)the ashes of a heifer, sanctify^[f] for the purification of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will ^(AF)the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit ^(AG)offered himself without blemish to God, ^(AH)purify our^[g] conscience ^(AI)from dead works ^(AJ)to serve the living God.

¹⁵ Therefore he is ^(AK)the mediator of a new covenant, so that ^(AL)those who are called may ^(AM)receive the promised eternal inheritance, ^(AN)since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.^{[h] 16} For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For ^(AO)a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. ¹⁸ Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated ^(AP)without blood. ¹⁹ For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took ^(AQ)the blood of calves and goats, ^(AR)with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, ^(AS)“This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” ²¹ And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both ^(AT)the tent and all the vessels used in worship. ²² Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and ^(AU)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

²³ Thus it was necessary for ^(AV)the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ has entered, not into holy places ^(AW)made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God ^(AX)on our behalf. ²⁵ Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as ^(AY)the high priest enters ^(AZ)the holy places every year with blood not his own, ²⁶ for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, ^(BA)he has appeared ^(BB)once for all ^(BC)at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ And just as ^(BD)it is appointed for man to die once, and ^(BE)after that comes judgment, ²⁸ so Christ, having been offered once ^(BF)to bear the sins of ^(BG)many, will appear ^(BH)a second time, ^(BI)not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly ^(BJ)waiting for him.

Christ's Sacrifice Once for All

10 For since the law has but ^(BK)a shadow ^(BL)of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, ^(BM)it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. ² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? ³ But ^(BN)in these sacrifices ^(BO)there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For ^(BP)it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Consequently, ^(BQ)when Christ^[i] came into the world, he said,

⁸ When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in ^(BS)sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), ⁹ then he added, ^(BT)“Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will ^(BU)we have been sanctified through the offering of ^(BV)the body of Jesus Christ ^(BW)once for all.

¹¹ And every priest stands ^(BX)daily at his service, ^(BY)offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, ^(BZ)which can never take away sins. ¹² But when Christ^[j] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he ^(CA)sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ waiting from that time ^(CB)until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. ¹⁴ For by a single offering ^(CC)he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

¹⁵ And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

¹⁷ then he adds,

¹⁸ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

The Full Assurance of Faith

^19 (CF)Therefore, brothers,^[k] since we have confidence to enter ^(CG)the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by ^(CH)the new and living way that he opened for us through ^(CI)the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have ^(CJ)a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts ^(CK)sprinkled clean ^(CL)from an evil conscience and our bodies ^(CM)washed with pure water. ^23 (CN)Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for ^(CO)he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And ^(CP)let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ^25 (CQ)not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and ^(CR)all the more as you see ^(CS)the Day drawing near.

²⁶ For ^(CT)if we go on sinning deliberately ^(CU)after receiving the knowledge of the truth, ^(CV)there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ^27 (CW)but a fearful expectation of judgment, and ^(CX)a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. ^28 (CY)Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy ^(CZ)on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one ^(DA)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned ^(DB)the blood of the covenant ^(DC)by which he was sanctified, and has ^(DD)outraged the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know him who said, ^(DE)“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, ^(DF)“The Lord will judge his people.” ^31 (DG)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

³² But recall the former days when, after ^(DH)you were enlightened, you endured ^(DI)a hard struggle with sufferings, ³³ sometimes being ^(DJ)publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. ³⁴ For ^(DK)you had compassion on those in prison, and ^(DL)you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had ^(DM)a better possession and an abiding one. ³⁵ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has ^(DN)a great reward. ³⁶ For ^(DO)you have need of endurance, so that ^(DP)when you have done the will of God you may ^(DQ)receive what is promised. ³⁷ For,

³⁹ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.