¹⁷ Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath,^{(A) 18} so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.^{(B) 19} We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.^{(C) 20} Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner,^(D) because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.^(E)

A Superior Priesthood

¹¹ Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law^(A)), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron?^{(B) 12} For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well. ¹³ For the one these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar. ¹⁴ Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah,^(C) and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests.

¹⁵ And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears, ¹⁶ who did not become a priest based on a legal regulation about physical^[a] descent but based on the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it has been testified:

¹⁸ So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable^{(E) 19} (for the law perfected^(F) nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.^(G)

²⁰ None of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, ²¹ but he became a priest with an oath made by the one who said to him:

²² Because of this oath, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.^(I)

²³ Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. ²⁴ But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently. ²⁵ Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede^(J) for them.

²⁶ For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.^{(K) 27} He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself.^{(L) 28} For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son,^(M) who has been perfected^(N) forever.

A Heavenly Priesthood

8 Now the main point of what is being said is this: We have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,^{(A) 2} a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man.^{(B) 3} For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts^(C) and sacrifices; therefore, it was necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. ⁴ Now if he were on earth, he wouldn’t be a priest, since there are those^[a] offering the gifts prescribed by the law. ⁵ These serve as a copy and shadow^(D) of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For God said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.^{[b](E) 6} But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator^(F) of a better covenant,^(G) which has been established on better promises.^(H)

A Superior Covenant

⁷ For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one. ⁸ But finding fault with his people,^[c] he says:^[d]

¹³ By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.^(L)

New Covenant Ministry

¹¹ But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come.^[a] In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation^(A)), ¹² he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.^{(B) 13} For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,^{(C) 14} how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit^(D) offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our^[b] consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?^(E)

¹⁵ Therefore, he is the mediator^(F) of a new covenant,^[c](G) so that those who are called might receive the promise^(H) of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.^{(I) 16} Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in effect while the one who made it is living. ¹⁸ That is why even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood. ¹⁹ For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats,^[d] along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people,^{(J) 20} saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you.^{[e](K) 21} In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood.^{(L) 22} According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(M)

²³ Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these.^{(N) 24} For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model^[f] of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us.^{(O) 25} He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another.^{(P) 26} Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages,^(Q) for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.^{(R) 27} And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment^(S)— ²⁸ so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,^(T) will appear a second time,^(U) not to bear sin, but^[g] to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.^(V)

The Perfect Sacrifice

10 Since the law has only a shadow of the good things^(A) to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year. ² Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? ³ But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. ⁴ For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said:

⁸ After he says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law^(C)), ⁹ he then says, See, I have come to do your will.^[b] He takes away the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.^(D)

¹¹ Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins.^{(E) 12} But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.^{[c](F) 13} He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool.^{(G) 14} For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified. ¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after he says:

the Lord says,

¹⁷ and I will never again remember

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

Exhortations to Godliness

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus^(I)— ²⁰ he has inaugurated^[e] for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh^(J))— ²¹ and since we have a great high priest over the house of God,^{(K) 22} let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.^{(L) 23} Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.^{(M) 24} And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works,