Hebrews 9-11

New American Standard Bible 1995

The Old and the New

9 Now even the first covenant had ^(A)regulations of divine worship and ^(B)the earthly sanctuary. ² For there was ^(C)a ^[a]tabernacle prepared, the ^[b]outer one, in which were ^(D)the lampstand and ^(E)the table and ^(F)the ^[c]sacred bread; this is called the holy place. ³ Behind ^(G)the second veil there was a ^[d]tabernacle which is called the ^(H)Holy of Holies, ⁴ having a golden ^[e](I)altar of incense and ^(J)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^(K)a golden jar holding the manna, and ^(L)Aaron’s rod which budded, and ^(M)the tables of the covenant; ⁵ and above it were the ^(N)cherubim of glory ^(O)overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

⁶ Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests ^(P)are continually entering the ^[f]outer ^[g]tabernacle performing the divine worship, ⁷ but into ^(Q)the second, only ^(R)the high priest enters ^(S)once a year, ^(T)not without taking blood, which he ^(U)offers for himself and for the ^[h](V)sins of the people committed in ignorance. ^8 (W)The Holy Spirit is signifying this, ^(X)that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the ^[i]outer tabernacle is still standing, ⁹ which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly ^(Y)both gifts and sacrifices are offered which ^(Z)cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, ¹⁰ since they relate only to ^(AA)food and ^(AB)drink and various ^(AC)washings, ^(AD)regulations for the ^[j]body imposed until ^(AE)a time of reformation.

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a ^(AF)high priest of the ^(AG)good things ^[k]to come, He entered through ^(AH)the greater and more perfect ^[l]tabernacle, ^(AI)not made with hands, that is to say, ^(AJ)not of this creation; ¹² and not through ^(AK)the blood of goats and calves, but ^(AL)through His own blood, He ^(AM)entered the holy place ^(AN)once for all, ^[m]having obtained ^(AO)eternal redemption. ¹³ For if ^(AP)the blood of goats and bulls and ^(AQ)the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the ^[n]cleansing of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will ^(AR)the blood of Christ, who through ^[o](AS)the eternal Spirit ^(AT)offered Himself without blemish to God, ^(AU)cleanse ^[p]your conscience from ^(AV)dead works to serve ^(AW)the living God?

¹⁵ For this reason ^(AX)He is the ^(AY)mediator of a ^(AZ)new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been ^(BA)called may ^(BB)receive the promise of ^(BC)the eternal inheritance. ¹⁶ For where a ^[q]covenant is, there must of necessity ^[r]be the death of the one who made it. ¹⁷ For a ^[s]covenant is valid only when ^[t]men are dead, ^[u]for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. ¹⁸ Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. ¹⁹ For when every commandment had been ^(BD)spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, ^(BE)he took the ^(BF)blood of the calves and the goats, with ^(BG)water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both ^(BH)the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, “^(BI)This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” ²¹ And in the same way he ^(BJ)sprinkled both the ^[v]tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. ²² And according to the ^[w]Law, one may ^(BK)almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and ^(BL)without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

²³ Therefore it was necessary for the ^(BM)copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but ^(BN)the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ ^(BO)did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of ^(BP)the true one, but into ^(BQ)heaven itself, now ^(BR)to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵ nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as ^(BS)the high priest enters ^(BT)the holy place ^(BU)year by year with blood that is not his own. ²⁶ Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since ^(BV)the foundation of the world; but now ^(BW)once at ^(BX)the consummation of the ages He has been ^(BY)manifested to put away sin ^[x](BZ)by the sacrifice of Himself. ²⁷ And inasmuch as ^(CA)it is ^[y]appointed for men to die once and after this ^(CB)comes judgment, ²⁸ so Christ also, having been ^(CC)offered once to ^(CD)bear the sins of many, will appear ^(CE)a second time for ^(CF)salvation ^(CG)without reference to sin, to those who ^(CH)eagerly await Him.

One Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient

10 For the Law, since it has only ^(CI)a shadow of ^(CJ)the good things to come and not the very ^[z]form of things, ^[aa]can ^(CK)never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, ^(CL)make perfect those who draw near. ² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had ^(CM)consciousness of sins? ³ But ^(CN)in ^[ab]those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. ⁴ For it is ^(CO)impossible for the ^(CP)blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. ⁵ Therefore, ^(CQ)when He comes into the world, He says,

⁸ After saying above, “^(CW)Sacrifices and offerings and ^(CX)whole burnt offerings and sacrifices ^(CY)for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), ⁹ then He ^[ac]said, “^(CZ)Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰ By ^[ad]this will we have been ^(DA)sanctified through ^(DB)the offering of ^(DC)the body of Jesus Christ ^(DD)once for all.

¹¹ Every priest stands daily ministering and ^(DE)offering time after time the same sacrifices, which ^(DF)can never take away sins; ¹² but He, having offered one sacrifice ^(DG)for ^[ae]sins ^(DH)for all time, ^(DI)sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ waiting from that time onward ^(DJ)until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. ¹⁴ For by one offering He has ^(DK)perfected ^(DL)for all time those who are ^[af]sanctified. ¹⁵ And ^(DM)the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

He then says,

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

A New and Living Way

¹⁹ Therefore, brethren, since we ^(DP)have confidence to ^(DQ)enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by ^(DR)a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through ^(DS)the veil, that is, His flesh, ²¹ and since we have ^(DT)a great priest ^(DU)over the house of God, ²² let us ^(DV)draw near with a ^[ag]sincere heart in ^(DW)full assurance of faith, having our hearts ^(DX)sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies ^(DY)washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the ^(DZ)confession of our ^(EA)hope without wavering, for ^(EB)He who promised is faithful; ²⁴ and let us consider how ^(EC)to stimulate one another to love and ^(ED)good deeds, ²⁵ not forsaking our own ^(EE)assembling together, as is the habit of some, but ^(EF)encouraging one another; and all the more as you see ^(EG)the day drawing near.

Christ or Judgment

²⁶ For if we go on ^(EH)sinning willfully after receiving ^(EI)the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a terrifying expectation of ^(EJ)judgment and ^(EK)the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. ^28 (EL)Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ^29 (EM)How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve ^(EN)who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean ^(EO)the blood of the covenant ^(EP)by which he was sanctified, and has ^(EQ)insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “^(ER)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “^(ES)The Lord will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a ^(ET)terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the ^(EU)living God.

³² But remember ^(EV)the former days, ^[ah]when, after being ^(EW)enlightened, you endured a great ^(EX)conflict of sufferings, ³³ partly by being ^(EY)made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming ^(EZ)sharers with those who were so treated. ³⁴ For you ^(FA)showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted ^(FB)joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves ^(FC)a better possession and a lasting one. ³⁵ Therefore, do not throw away your ^(FD)confidence, which has a great ^(FE)reward. ³⁶ For you have need of ^(FF)endurance, so that when you have ^(FG)done the will of God, you may ^(FH)receive ^[ai]what was promised.

³⁹ But ^[aj]we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the ^[ak]preserving of the soul.

The Triumphs of Faith

11 Now faith is the ^[al](FL)assurance of things ^[am](FM)hoped for, the ^[an]conviction of ^(FN)things not seen. ² For by it the ^(FO)men of old ^[ao](FP)gained approval.

³ By faith we understand that the ^[ap](FQ)worlds were prepared ^(FR)by the word of God, so that what is seen ^(FS)was not made out of things which are visible. ⁴ By faith ^(FT)Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he ^(FU)obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying ^[aq]about his ^(FV)gifts, and through ^[ar]faith, though ^(FW)he is dead, he still speaks. ⁵ By faith ^(FX)Enoch was taken up so that he would not ^(FY)see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who ^(FZ)comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. ⁷ By faith ^(GA)Noah, being ^(GB)warned by God about ^(GC)things not yet seen, ^[as](GD)in reverence ^(GE)prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of ^(GF)the righteousness which is according to faith.

⁸ By faith ^(GG)Abraham, when he was called, obeyed ^[at]by going out to a place which he was to ^(GH)receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he lived as an alien in ^(GI)the land of promise, as in a foreign land, ^(GJ)dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, ^(GK)fellow heirs of the same promise; ¹⁰ for he was looking for ^(GL)the city which has ^(GM)foundations, ^(GN)whose architect and builder is God. ¹¹ By faith even ^(GO)Sarah herself received ^[au]ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him ^(GP)faithful who had promised. ¹² Therefore there was born even of one man, and ^(GQ)him as good as dead ^[av]at that, as many descendants ^(GR)as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

^13 (GS)All these died in faith, ^(GT)without receiving the promises, but ^(GU)having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and ^(GV)having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ¹⁴ For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. ¹⁵ And indeed if they had been ^[aw]thinking of that country from which they went out, ^(GW)they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a ^(GX)heavenly one. Therefore ^(GY)God is not ^[ax]ashamed to be ^(GZ)called their God; for ^(HA)He has prepared a city for them.

¹⁷ By faith ^(HB)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had ^(HC)received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; ¹⁸ it was he to whom it was said, “^(HD)In Isaac your ^[ay]descendants shall be called.” ^19 [az]He considered that ^(HE)God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back ^[ba]as a ^(HF)type. ²⁰ By faith ^(HG)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. ²¹ By faith ^(HH)Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and ^(HI)worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. ²² By faith ^(HJ)Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

²³ By faith ^(HK)Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the ^(HL)king’s edict. ²⁴ By faith Moses, ^(HM)when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to ^(HN)endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, ^26 (HO)considering the reproach of ^[bb]Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the ^(HP)reward. ²⁷ By faith he ^(HQ)left Egypt, not ^(HR)fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as ^(HS)seeing Him who is unseen. ²⁸ By faith he ^[bc](HT)kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that ^(HU)he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. ²⁹ By faith they ^(HV)passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were ^[bd]drowned.

³⁰ By faith ^(HW)the walls of Jericho fell down ^(HX)after they had been encircled for seven days. ³¹ By faith ^(HY)Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies ^[be]in peace.

³² And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of ^(HZ)Gideon, ^(IA)Barak, ^(IB)Samson, ^(IC)Jephthah, of ^(ID)David and ^(IE)Samuel and the prophets, ³³ who by faith ^(IF)conquered kingdoms, ^(IG)performed acts of righteousness, ^(IH)obtained promises, ^(II)shut the mouths of lions, ^34 (IJ)quenched the power of fire, ^(IK)escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, ^(IL)became mighty in war, ^(IM)put foreign armies to flight. ^35 (IN)Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their ^[bf]release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; ³⁶ and others ^[bg]experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also ^(IO)chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were ^(IP)stoned, they were ^(IQ)sawn in two, ^[bh]they were tempted, they were ^(IR)put to death with the sword; they went about ^(IS)in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ^(IT)ill-treated ³⁸ (men of whom the world was not worthy), ^(IU)wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes ^[bi]in the ground.

³⁹ And all these, having ^[bj](IV)gained approval through their faith, ^(IW)did not receive ^[bk]what was promised, ⁴⁰ because God had ^[bl]provided ^(IX)something better for us, so that ^(IY)apart from us they would not be made perfect.