²² This makes Jesus the guarantor of ^(A)a better covenant.

Benediction

²⁰ Now ^(A)may the God of peace ^(B)who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, ^(C)the great shepherd of the sheep, by ^(D)the blood of the eternal covenant,

²⁴ and to Jesus, ^(A)the mediator of a new covenant, and to ^(B)the sprinkled blood ^(C)that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

⁶ But as it is, Christ^[a] has obtained a ministry that is ^(A)as much more excellent than the old as ^(B)the covenant ^(C)he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. ^7 (D)For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

⁸ For he finds fault with them when he says:^[b]

²⁵ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

³² For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father, saying, ^(A)‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.’

⁹ I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. ^(A)If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.

¹⁵ Therefore he is ^(A)the mediator of a new covenant, so that ^(B)those who are called may ^(C)receive the promised eternal inheritance, ^(D)since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.^{[a] 16} For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For ^(E)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 ^(F)without blood. ¹⁹ For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took ^(G)the blood of calves and goats, ^(H)with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, ^(I)“This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” ²¹ And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both ^(J)the tent and all the vessels used in worship. ²² Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and ^(K)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

²³ Thus it was necessary for ^(L)the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

²⁰ And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ^(A)“This cup that is poured out for you is ^(B)the new ^(C)covenant in my blood.^[a]