Hebrews 9

New International Version

Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle

9 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.^(A) ²A tabernacle^(B) was set up. In its first room were the lampstand^(C) and the table^(D) with its consecrated bread;^(E) this was called the Holy Place.^(F) ³Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,^(G) ⁴which had the golden altar of incense^(H) and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.^(I) This ark contained the gold jar of manna,^(J) Aaron’s staff that had budded,^(K) and the stone tablets of the covenant.^(L) ⁵Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory,^(M) overshadowing the atonement cover.^(N) But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

⁶When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly^(O) into the outer room to carry on their ministry. ⁷But only the high priest entered^(P) the inner room,^(Q) and that only once a year,^(R) and never without blood,^(S) which he offered for himself^(T) and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.^(U) ⁸The Holy Spirit was showing^(V) by this that the way^(W) into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. ⁹This is an illustration^(X) for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered^(Y) were not able to clear the conscience^(Z) of the worshiper. ¹⁰They are only a matter of food^(AA) and drink^(AB) and various ceremonial washings^(AC)—external regulations^(AD) applying until the time of the new order.

The Blood of Christ

¹¹But when Christ came as high priest^(AE) of the good things that are now already here,^[a]^(AF) he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle^(AG) that is not made with human hands,^(AH) that is to say, is not a part of this creation. ¹²He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves;^(AI) but he entered the Most Holy Place^(AJ) once for all^(AK) by his own blood,^(AL) thus obtaining^[b] eternal redemption. ¹³The blood of goats and bulls^(AM) and the ashes of a heifer^(AN) sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit^(AO) offered himself^(AP) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences^(AQ) from acts that lead to death,^[c]^(AR) so that we may serve the living God!^(AS)

¹⁵For this reason Christ is the mediator^(AT) of a new covenant,^(AU) that those who are called^(AV) may receive the promised^(AW) eternal inheritance^(AX)—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.^(AY)

¹⁶In the case of a will,^[d] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, ¹⁷because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. ¹⁸This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.^(AZ) ¹⁹When Moses had proclaimed^(BA) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,^(BB) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.^(BC) ²⁰He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”^[e]^(BD) ²¹In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. ²²In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,^(BE) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(BF)

²³It was necessary, then, for the copies^(BG) of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;^(BH) he entered heaven itself,^(BI) now to appear for us in God’s presence.^(BJ) ²⁵Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place^(BK) every year with blood that is not his own.^(BL) ²⁶Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.^(BM) But he has appeared^(BN) once for all^(BO) at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.^(BP) ²⁷Just as people are destined to die once,^(BQ) and after that to face judgment,^(BR) ²⁸so Christ was sacrificed once^(BS) to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,^(BT) not to bear sin,^(BU) but to bring salvation^(BV) to those who are waiting for him.^(BW)

Footnotes

Hebrews 9:11 Some early manuscripts are to come
Hebrews 9:12 Or blood, having obtained
Hebrews 9:14 Or from useless rituals
Hebrews 9:16 Same Greek word as covenant; also in verse 17
Hebrews 9:20 Exodus 24:8

Psalm 127

New International Version

Psalm 127

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

¹Unless the Lord builds^(A) the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches^(B) over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
²In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
toiling for food^(C) to eat—
    for he grants sleep^(D) to^[a] those he loves.^(E)

³Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward^(F) from him.
⁴Like arrows^(G) in the hands of a warrior
    are children born in one’s youth.
⁵Blessed is the man
    whose quiver is full of them.^(H)
They will not be put to shame
    when they contend with their opponents^(I) in court.^(J)

Footnotes

Psalm 127:2 Or eat— / for while they sleep he provides for

Job 30-32

New International Version

30 “But now they mock me,^(A)
    men younger than I,
whose fathers I would have disdained
    to put with my sheep dogs.^(B)
²Of what use was the strength of their hands to me,
    since their vigor had gone from them?
³Haggard from want and hunger,
    they roamed^[a] the parched land^(C)
    in desolate wastelands^(D) at night.^(E)
⁴In the brush they gathered salt herbs,^(F)
    and their food^[b] was the root of the broom bush.^(G)
⁵They were banished from human society,
    shouted at as if they were thieves.
⁶They were forced to live in the dry stream beds,
    among the rocks and in holes in the ground.^(H)
⁷They brayed^(I) among the bushes^(J)
    and huddled in the undergrowth.
⁸A base and nameless brood,^(K)
    they were driven out of the land.^(L)

⁹“And now those young men mock me^(M) in song;^(N)
    I have become a byword^(O) among them.
¹⁰They detest me^(P) and keep their distance;
    they do not hesitate to spit in my face.^(Q)
¹¹Now that God has unstrung my bow^(R) and afflicted me,^(S)
    they throw off restraint^(T) in my presence.
¹²On my right^(U) the tribe^[c] attacks;
    they lay snares^(V) for my feet,^(W)
    they build their siege ramps against me.^(X)
¹³They break up my road;^(Y)
    they succeed in destroying me.^(Z)
    ‘No one can help him,’ they say.
¹⁴They advance as through a gaping breach;^(AA)
    amid the ruins they come rolling in.
¹⁵Terrors^(AB) overwhelm me;^(AC)
    my dignity is driven away as by the wind,
    my safety vanishes like a cloud.^(AD)

¹⁶“And now my life ebbs away;^(AE)
    days of suffering grip me.^(AF)
¹⁷Night pierces my bones;
    my gnawing pains never rest.^(AG)
¹⁸In his great power^(AH) God becomes like clothing to me^[d];
    he binds me like the neck of my garment.
¹⁹He throws me into the mud,^(AI)
    and I am reduced to dust and ashes.^(AJ)

²⁰“I cry out to you,^(AK) God, but you do not answer;^(AL)
    I stand up, but you merely look at me.
²¹You turn on me ruthlessly;^(AM)
    with the might of your hand^(AN) you attack me.^(AO)
²²You snatch me up and drive me before the wind;^(AP)
    you toss me about in the storm.^(AQ)
²³I know you will bring me down to death,^(AR)
    to the place appointed for all the living.^(AS)

²⁴“Surely no one lays a hand on a broken man^(AT)
    when he cries for help in his distress.^(AU)
²⁵Have I not wept for those in trouble?^(AV)
    Has not my soul grieved for the poor?^(AW)
²⁶Yet when I hoped for good, evil came;
    when I looked for light, then came darkness.^(AX)
²⁷The churning inside me never stops;^(AY)
    days of suffering confront me.^(AZ)
²⁸I go about blackened,^(BA) but not by the sun;
    I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.^(BB)
²⁹I have become a brother of jackals,^(BC)
    a companion of owls.^(BD)
³⁰My skin grows black^(BE) and peels;^(BF)
    my body burns with fever.^(BG)
³¹My lyre is tuned to mourning,^(BH)
    and my pipe^(BI) to the sound of wailing.

31 “I made a covenant with my eyes^(BJ)
    not to look lustfully at a young woman.^(BK)
²For what is our lot^(BL) from God above,
    our heritage from the Almighty on high?^(BM)
³Is it not ruin^(BN) for the wicked,
    disaster^(BO) for those who do wrong?^(BP)
⁴Does he not see my ways^(BQ)
    and count my every step?^(BR)

⁵“If I have walked with falsehood
    or my foot has hurried after deceit^(BS)—
⁶let God weigh me^(BT) in honest scales^(BU)
    and he will know that I am blameless^(BV)—
⁷if my steps have turned from the path,^(BW)
    if my heart has been led by my eyes,
    or if my hands^(BX) have been defiled,^(BY)
⁸then may others eat what I have sown,^(BZ)
    and may my crops be uprooted.^(CA)

⁹“If my heart has been enticed^(CB) by a woman,^(CC)
    or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
¹⁰then may my wife grind^(CD) another man’s grain,
    and may other men sleep with her.^(CE)
¹¹For that would have been wicked,^(CF)
    a sin to be judged.^(CG)
¹²It is a fire^(CH) that burns to Destruction^[e];^(CI)
    it would have uprooted my harvest.^(CJ)

¹³“If I have denied justice to any of my servants,^(CK)
    whether male or female,
    when they had a grievance against me,^(CL)
¹⁴what will I do when God confronts me?^(CM)
    What will I answer when called to account?^(CN)
¹⁵Did not he who made me in the womb make them?^(CO)
    Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?^(CP)

¹⁶“If I have denied the desires of the poor^(CQ)
    or let the eyes of the widow^(CR) grow weary,^(CS)
¹⁷if I have kept my bread to myself,
    not sharing it with the fatherless^(CT)—
¹⁸but from my youth I reared them as a father would,
    and from my birth I guided the widow^(CU)—
¹⁹if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing,^(CV)
    or the needy^(CW) without garments,
²⁰and their hearts did not bless me^(CX)
    for warming them with the fleece^(CY) from my sheep,
²¹if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,^(CZ)
    knowing that I had influence in court,^(DA)
²²then let my arm fall from the shoulder,
    let it be broken off at the joint.^(DB)
²³For I dreaded destruction from God,^(DC)
    and for fear of his splendor^(DD) I could not do such things.^(DE)

²⁴“If I have put my trust in gold^(DF)
    or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’^(DG)
²⁵if I have rejoiced over my great wealth,^(DH)
    the fortune my hands had gained,^(DI)
²⁶if I have regarded the sun^(DJ) in its radiance
    or the moon^(DK) moving in splendor,
²⁷so that my heart was secretly enticed^(DL)
    and my hand offered them a kiss of homage,^(DM)
²⁸then these also would be sins to be judged,^(DN)
    for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.^(DO)

²⁹“If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune^(DP)
    or gloated over the trouble that came to him^(DQ)—
³⁰I have not allowed my mouth to sin
    by invoking a curse against their life^(DR)—
³¹if those of my household have never said,
    ‘Who has not been filled with Job’s meat?’^(DS)—
³²but no stranger had to spend the night in the street,
    for my door was always open to the traveler^(DT)—
³³if I have concealed^(DU) my sin as people do,^[f]
    by hiding^(DV) my guilt in my heart
³⁴because I so feared the crowd^(DW)
    and so dreaded the contempt of the clans
    that I kept silent^(DX) and would not go outside—

³⁵(“Oh, that I had someone to hear me!^(DY)
    I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me;
    let my accuser^(DZ) put his indictment in writing.
³⁶Surely I would wear it on my shoulder,^(EA)
    I would put it on like a crown.^(EB)
³⁷I would give him an account of my every step;^(EC)
    I would present it to him as to a ruler.^(ED))—

³⁸“if my land cries out against me^(EE)
    and all its furrows are wet^(EF) with tears,
³⁹if I have devoured its yield without payment^(EG)
    or broken the spirit of its tenants,^(EH)
⁴⁰then let briers^(EI) come up instead of wheat
    and stinkweed^(EJ) instead of barley.”

The words of Job are ended.^(EK)

Elihu

32 So these three men stopped answering Job,^(EL) because he was righteous in his own eyes.^(EM) ²But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite,^(EN) of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself^(EO) rather than God.^(EP) ³He was also angry with the three friends,^(EQ) because they had found no way to refute Job,^(ER) and yet had condemned him.^[g]^(ES) ⁴Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.^(ET) ⁵But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.

⁶So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:

“I am young in years,
    and you are old;^(EU)
that is why I was fearful,
    not daring to tell you what I know.
⁷I thought, ‘Age should speak;
    advanced years should teach wisdom.’^(EV)
⁸But it is the spirit^[h]^(EW) in a person,
    the breath of the Almighty,^(EX) that gives them understanding.^(EY)
⁹It is not only the old^[i] who are wise,^(EZ)
    not only the aged^(FA) who understand what is right.^(FB)

¹⁰“Therefore I say: Listen to me;^(FC)
    I too will tell you what I know.^(FD)
¹¹I waited while you spoke,
    I listened to your reasoning;
while you were searching for words,
¹²    I gave you my full attention.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong;
    none of you has answered his arguments.^(FE)
¹³Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;^(FF)
    let God, not a man, refute^(FG) him.’
¹⁴But Job has not marshaled his words against me,^(FH)
    and I will not answer him with your arguments.

¹⁵“They are dismayed and have no more to say;
    words have failed them.^(FI)
¹⁶Must I wait, now that they are silent,
    now that they stand there with no reply?
¹⁷I too will have my say;
    I too will tell what I know.^(FJ)
¹⁸For I am full of words,
    and the spirit^(FK) within me compels me;^(FL)
¹⁹inside I am like bottled-up wine,
    like new wineskins ready to burst.^(FM)
²⁰I must speak and find relief;
    I must open my lips and reply.^(FN)
²¹I will show no partiality,^(FO)
    nor will I flatter anyone;^(FP)
²²for if I were skilled in flattery,
    my Maker^(FQ) would soon take me away.^(FR)

Footnotes

Job 30:3 Or gnawed
Job 30:4 Or fuel
Job 30:12 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
Job 30:18 Hebrew; Septuagint power he grasps my clothing
Job 31:12 Hebrew Abaddon
Job 31:33 Or as Adam did
Job 32:3 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition Job, and so had condemned God
Job 32:8 Or Spirit; also in verse 18
Job 32:9 Or many; or great