The Old Covenant

9 Now even the first covenant had ^(A)requirements of divine worship and ^(B)the earthly sanctuary. ² For there was ^(C)a tabernacle prepared: the first part, in which were ^(D)the lampstand and ^(E)the table and ^(F)the ^[a]sacred bread, which is called the holy place. ³ And behind ^(G)the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the ^(H)Holy of Holies, ⁴ having a golden ^[b](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, and ^(L)Aaron’s rod which budded, and ^(M)the tablets of the covenant. ⁵ And above it were the ^(N)cherubim of glory ^(O)overshadowing the ^[c]mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

⁶ Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests ^(P)are continually entering the first part of the 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 ^[d](V)sins of the people committed in ignorance. ^8 (W)The Holy Spirit is indicating this, ^(X)that the way into the holy places has not yet been manifested while that first part of the 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 and ^(AB)drink and various ^(AC)washings, ^(AD)requirements for the ^[e]body imposed until ^(AE)a time of reformation.

The New Covenant

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a ^(AF)high priest of the ^(AG)good things ^[f]to come, He entered through ^(AH)the greater and more perfect tabernacle, ^(AI)not made with hands, that is to say, ^(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 places ^(AN)once for all, ^[g]having obtained ^(AO)eternal redemption. ¹³ For if ^(AP)the blood of goats and bulls and ^(AQ)the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the ^[h]cleansing of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will ^(AR)the blood of Christ, who through ^[i](AS)the eternal Spirit ^(AT)offered Himself without blemish to God, ^(AU)cleanse ^[j]your conscience from ^(AV)dead works to serve ^(AW)the living God?

¹⁵ And 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 trespasses 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 a ^[k]covenant is, there must of necessity ^[l]be the death of the one who made it. ¹⁷ For a ^[m]covenant is valid only when ^[n]men are dead, ^[o]for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. ¹⁸ Therefore not even the first covenant was 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, both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he ^(BJ)sprinkled with the blood. ²² And according to the ^[p]Law, one may ^(BK)almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and ^(BL)without 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, but ^(BN)the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ ^(BO)did not enter holy places made with hands, mere copies of ^(BP)the true ones, 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 places ^(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)manifested to put away sin ^[q](BZ)by the sacrifice of Himself. ²⁷ And inasmuch as ^(CA)it is ^[r]appointed for men 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.