| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. | 1Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also 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. | 2A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. |
| 3Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, | 3Behind the second curtain was a room 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. | 4which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. |
| 5Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. | 5Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. |
| 6These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, | 6When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on 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 only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had 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 showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. |
| 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 an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. |
| 10but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. | 10They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings--external regulations applying until the time of the new order. |
| 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 when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part 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 did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining 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, | 13The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. |
| 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, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may 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. | 15For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. |
| 16For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. | 16In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, |
| 17For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. | 17because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. |
| 18Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. | 18This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without 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, | 19When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. |
| 20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” | 20He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep." |
| 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 with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. |
| 22Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. | 22In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed 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. | 23It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves 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 Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. |
| 25Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, | 25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. |
| 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 Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. |
| 27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, | 27Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face 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 Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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