| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. | 1Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an earthly sanctuary. |
| 2For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. | 2For a tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves. |
| 3Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, | 3Behind the second curtain, the tabernacle was called the most holy place. |
| 4having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. | 4It contained the gold altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, covered with gold on all sides, in which there was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. |
| 5Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. | 5The cherubim of glory were above it overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now. |
| 6These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, | 6With these things set up this way, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry. |
| 7but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. | 7But the high priest alone enters the second room, and he does that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. |
| 8By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing | 8The Holy Spirit was making it clear that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still standing. |
| 9(which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, | 9This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper's conscience. |
| 10but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. | 10They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of restoration. |
| 11But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) | 11But the Messiah has appeared, high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), |
| 12he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. | 12He entered the most holy place once for all, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. |
| 13For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, | 13For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, |
| 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. | 14how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God? |
| 15Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. | 15Therefore, He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. |
| 16For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. | 16Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established. |
| 17For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. | 17For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in force while the one who made it is living. |
| 18Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. | 18That is why even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood. |
| 19For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, | 19For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people, |
| 20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” | 20saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded for you. |
| 21And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. | 21In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood. |
| 22Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. | 22According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. |
| 23Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. | 23Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these. |
| 24For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. | 24For the Messiah did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that He might now appear in the presence of God for us. |
| 25Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, | 25He did not do this to offer Himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another. |
| 26for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. | 26Otherwise, He would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of Himself. |
| 27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, | 27And just as it is appointed for people to die once--and after this, judgment-- |
| 28so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. | 28so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him. |
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