¹⁸ This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.^(A)

³ When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws,^(A) they responded with one voice, “Everything the Lord has said we will do.”^{(B) 4} Moses then wrote^(C) down everything the Lord had said.

He got up early the next morning and built an altar^(D) at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars^(E) representing the twelve tribes of Israel. ⁵ Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings^(F) and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings^(G) to the Lord. ⁶ Moses^(H) took half of the blood^(I) and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed^(J) against the altar. ⁷ Then he took the Book of the Covenant^(K) and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”^(L)

⁸ Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people^(M) and said, “This is the blood of the covenant^(N) that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

²² In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,^(A) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(B)

¹⁴ How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit^(A) offered himself^(B) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences^(C) from acts that lead to death,^[a](D) so that we may serve the living God!^(E)

⁷ For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.^{(A) 8} But God found fault with the people and said^[a]:

²² Take a bunch of hyssop,^(A) dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood^(B) on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning.