Hebrews 9

1. Truly then, the first tabernacle also had ordinances of worship and an earthly sanctuary.

2. For the first tabernacle, which is called holy, was furnished; in which were placed both the lampstand and the table, and the loaves of showbread.

3. But behind the second veil was a tabernacle which is called the holy of holies,

4. Containing a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant, which was overlaid on all sides with gold; in which was the golden jar containing the manna, and the rod of Aaron that had sprouted, and the tablets of the covenant;

5. And arching above it were the cherubim of glory spreading their wings over the mercy seat, concerning which now is not the time to expound in detail.

6. Now with these things prepared in this manner, the priests enter into the first tabernacle at all customary times in order to perform the services;

7. But the high priest enters alone into the second tabernacle once a year, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins that the people committed in ignorance.

8. The Holy Spirit signifying this: that the way of the holiest has not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is still standing;

9. Which is a symbol for the present time, in which both gifts and sacrifices are being offered that are not able to perfect the one performing the service, as pertaining to the conscience.

10. These services consist only of meat and drink offerings, and various washings and physical ordinances, imposed until the time of the new spiritual order.

11. But Christ Himself has become High Priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by human hands (that is, not of this present physical creation).

12. Not by the blood of goats and calves, but by the means of His own blood, He entered once for all into the holiest, having by Himself secured everlasting redemption for us.

13. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are defiled, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh,

14. To a far greater degree, the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, shall purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

15. And for this reason He is the Mediator of the New Covenant: in order that through His death, which took place for the release of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

16. Now where there is a covenant, it is obligatory to bring forth a symbolic sacrifice to represent the death of the one who personally ratifies the covenant;

17. Because a covenant is ratified only over the dead sacrificial animals, since there is no way that it is legally in force until the living ratifier has symbolically represented his death. (see explanation)

18. For this very reason, neither was the first covenant inaugurated without blood

19. Because after Moses had spoken every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and he sprinkled both the book of the covenant itself and all the people,

20. Saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you.”

21. And in the same manner, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle, too, and all the vessels of service.

22. Now almost all things are purified with blood according to the priestly law, and without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.

23. Therefore, it was indeed obligatory for the patterns of the heavenly things to be purified with the blood of these animals, but the things in heaven themselves with superior sacrifices than these.

24. For Christ has not entered into the holy places made by human hands, which are mere copies of the true; rather, He has entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

25. Not that He should offer Himself many times, even as the high priest enters into the holy of holies year by year with the blood of others;

26. For then it would have been necessary for Him to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now, once and for all, in the consummation of the ages, He has been manifested for the purpose of removing sin through His sacrifice of Himself.

27. And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this, the judgment;

28. So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear the second time without sin unto salvation to those who are eagerly awaiting Him.