These preparations having thus been made, (A)the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, but into the second only (B)the high priest goes, and he but (C)once a year, and not without taking blood, (D)which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that (E)the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age).[a] According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered (F)that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with (G)food and drink and (H)various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:9 Or which is symbolic for the age then present

Now these things having been prepared in this way, the priests enter into the first tent continually[a] as they[b] accomplish their service, but only the high priest enters into the second tent once a year, not without blood, which he offers on behalf of himself and the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was making this clear, that the way into the holy place was not yet revealed, while[c] the first tent was still in existence, which was a symbol for the present time, in which both the gifts and sacrifices which were offered were not able to perfect the worshiper with respect to the conscience, 10 concerning instead only food and drink and different washings, regulations of outward things imposed until the time of setting things right.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:6 Literally “throughout all”
  2. Hebrews 9:6 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal participle (“accomplish”)
  3. Hebrews 9:8 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal participle (“was”)