Hebrews 9

RKJNT^{(i) 1} Now truly, the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and an earthly sanctuary. ² For there was a tabernacle prepared, in the first room of which was the lampstand, and the table, and the bread of the presence; this is called the sanctuary. ³ And behind the second veil stood the room of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; ⁴ Which had the golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, in which was the golden jar that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; ⁵ And over it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak in detail. ⁶ Now when these preparations had been made, the priests went regularly into the first room of the tabernacle, performing their ministry. ⁷ But into the second the high priest went alone, once every year, and not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the sins the people committed in ignorance. ⁸ By this the Holy Spirit signifies that the way into the holiest of all has not yet been disclosed, while the first room of the tabernacle remains standing, ⁹ Which is a symbol for the present age, in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshipper perfect in conscience; ¹⁰ For they are only a matter of food and drink, and various washings, and regulations for the body, imposed until the time of reformation. ¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, then, through a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; ¹² Nor by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption. ¹³ For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who are unclean, sanctifies them so their flesh is clean: ¹⁴ How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, cleanse your consciences from dead works to serve the living God? ¹⁵ And for this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions committed under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. ¹⁶ For where there is a will, the death of the testator must be established. ¹⁷ For a will is in force only upon death: it has no strength at all while the testator lives. ¹⁸ Therefore, even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. ¹⁹ For when Moses had spoken every commandment to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, ²⁰ Saying, This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you to keep. ²¹ In the same way, he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels used in the ministry. ²² Indeed, under the law almost all things are cleansed with blood; and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. ²³ It was, therefore, necessary that the copies of the heavenly things should be purified with these sacrifices; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ has not entered a holy place made with hands, a copy of the true one; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. ²⁵ Nor does he need to offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place every year with blood not his own; ²⁶ For then he would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world: but now he has appeared once at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ And as it is appointed for men once to die, and after this comes judgment: ²⁸ So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many; shall appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring full salvation to those who eagerly await him.