The Earthly Holy Place

9 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and ^(A)an earthly place of holiness. ² For ^(B)a tent^[a] was prepared, the first section, in which were ^(C)the lampstand and ^(D)the table and ^(E)the bread of the Presence.^[b] It is called the Holy Place. ³ Behind ^(F)the second curtain was a second section^[c] called the Most Holy Place, ⁴ having the golden ^(G)altar of incense and ^(H)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^(I)a golden urn holding the manna, and ^(J)Aaron's staff that budded, and ^(K)the tablets of the covenant. ⁵ Above it were ^(L)the cherubim of glory overshadowing ^(M)the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a high priest ^(A)of the good things that have come,^[a] then through ^(B)the greater and more perfect tent (^(C)not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) ¹² he ^(D)entered ^(E)once for all into the holy places, not by means of ^(F)the blood of goats and calves but ^(G)by means of his own blood, ^(H)thus securing an eternal redemption. ¹³ For if ^(I)the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with ^(J)the ashes of a heifer, sanctify^[b] for the purification of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will ^(K)the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit ^(L)offered himself without blemish to God, ^(M)purify our^[c] conscience ^(N)from dead works ^(O)to serve the living God.

¹⁵ Therefore he is ^(P)the mediator of a new covenant, so that ^(Q)those who are called may ^(R)receive the promised eternal inheritance, ^(S)since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.^[d]

²⁴ For Christ has entered, not into holy places ^(A)made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God ^(B)on our behalf. ²⁵ Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as ^(C)the high priest enters ^(D)the holy places every year with blood not his own, ²⁶ for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, ^(E)he has appeared ^(F)once for all ^(G)at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ And just as ^(H)it is appointed for man to die once, and ^(I)after that comes judgement, ²⁸ so Christ, having been offered once ^(J)to bear the sins of ^(K)many, will appear ^(L)a second time, ^(M)not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly ^(N)waiting for him.