The Old and the New

9 Now even the first covenant had ^(A)regulations for divine worship and ^(B)the earthly sanctuary. ² For ^(C)a ^[a]tabernacle was equipped, the ^[b]outer sanctuary, in which were ^(D)the lampstand, ^(E)the table, and ^(F)the ^[c]sacred bread; this is called the Holy Place. ³ Behind ^(G)the second veil there was a ^[d]tabernacle which is called the ^(H)Most Holy Place, ⁴ having a golden ^[e](I)altar of incense and ^(J)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^(K)a golden jar holding the manna, ^(L)Aaron’s staff which budded, and ^(M)the tablets of the covenant; ⁵ and above it were the ^(N)cherubim of glory ^(O)overshadowing the ^[f]atoning cover; but about these things we cannot now speak in detail.

⁶ Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests ^(P)are continually entering the ^[g]outer ^[h]tabernacle, performing the divine worship, ⁷ but into ^(Q)the second, only ^(R)the high priest enters ^(S)once a year, ^(T)not without taking blood which he ^(U)offers for himself and for the ^[i](V)sins of the people committed in ignorance. ^8 (W)The Holy Spirit is signifying this, ^(X)that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the ^[j]outer tabernacle is still standing, ⁹ which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly ^(Y)both gifts and sacrifices are offered which ^(Z)cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, ¹⁰ since they relate only to ^(AA)food, ^(AB)drink, and various ^(AC)washings, ^(AD)regulations for the ^[k]body imposed until ^(AE)a time of reformation.

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a ^(AF)high priest of the ^(AG)good things ^[l]having come, He entered through ^(AH)the greater and more perfect ^[m]tabernacle, ^(AI)not made by hands, that is, ^(AJ)not of this creation; ¹² and not through ^(AK)the blood of goats and calves, but ^(AL)through His own blood, He ^(AM)entered the holy place ^(AN)once for all time, ^[n]having obtained ^(AO)eternal redemption. ¹³ For if ^(AP)the blood of goats and bulls, and ^(AQ)the ^[o]ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the ^[p]cleansing of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will ^(AR)the blood of Christ, who through ^[q](AS)the eternal Spirit ^(AT)offered Himself without blemish to God, ^(AU)cleanse your conscience from ^(AV)dead works to serve ^(AW)the living God?

¹⁵ For this reason ^(AX)He is the ^(AY)mediator of a ^(AZ)new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the violations that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been ^(BA)called may ^(BB)receive the promise of ^(BC)the eternal inheritance. ¹⁶ For where there is a ^[r]covenant, there must of necessity ^[s]be the death of the one who made it. ¹⁷ For a ^[t]covenant is valid only when people are dead, ^[u]for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. ¹⁸ Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. ¹⁹ For when every commandment had been ^(BD)spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, ^(BE)he took the ^(BF)blood of the calves and the goats, with ^(BG)water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both ^(BH)the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, “^(BI)This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” ²¹ And in the same way he ^(BJ)sprinkled both the ^[v]tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. ²² And ^(BK)almost all things are cleansed with blood, according to the Law, and ^(BL)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

²³ Therefore it was necessary for the ^(BM)copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these things, but ^(BN)the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ ^(BO)did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of ^(BP)the true one, but into ^(BQ)heaven itself, now ^(BR)to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵ nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as ^(BS)the high priest enters ^(BT)the Holy Place ^(BU)year by year with blood that is not his own. ²⁶ Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since ^(BV)the foundation of the world; but now ^(BW)once at ^(BX)the consummation of the ages He has been ^(BY)revealed to put away sin ^[w](BZ)by the sacrifice of Himself. ²⁷ And just as ^(CA)it is destined for people to die once, and after this ^(CB)comes judgment, ²⁸ so Christ also, having been ^(CC)offered once to ^(CD)bear the sins of many, will appear ^(CE)a second time for ^(CF)salvation ^(CG)without reference to sin, to those who ^(CH)eagerly await Him.