Christ’s Perfect Sacrifice
(Psalm 40:1–17)

1  Σκιὰν (A shadow) γὰρ (for) ἔχων (having) ὁ (the) νόμος (law) τῶν (of the) μελλόντων (about to be) ἀγαθῶν (good things), οὐκ (not) αὐτὴν (themselves) τὴν (the) εἰκόνα (image) τῶν (of the) πραγμάτων (things), κατ’ (every) ἐνιαυτὸν (year) ταῖς (with the) αὐταῖς (same) θυσίαις (sacrifices) ἃς (that) προσφέρουσιν (they offer) εἰς (unto) τὸ (-) διηνεκὲς (perpetuity) οὐδέποτε (never) δύναται (is able) τοὺς (those) προσερχομένους (coming near) τελειῶσαι (to perfect)· 2  ἐπεὶ (Otherwise) οὐκ (not) ἂν (-) ἐπαύσαντο (would they have ceased) προσφερόμεναι (being offered), διὰ (because of) τὸ (-) μηδεμίαν (not) ἔχειν (having) ἔτι (anymore) συνείδησιν (conscience) ἁμαρτιῶν (of sins) τοὺς (those) λατρεύοντας (serving) ἅπαξ (once) κεκαθαρισμένους (having been cleansed)?

3  Ἀλλ’ (But) ἐν (in) αὐταῖς (these) ἀνάμνησις (is a reminder) ἁμαρτιῶν (of sins) κατ’ (every) ἐνιαυτόν (year)· 4  ἀδύνατον (Impossible it is) γὰρ (indeed) αἷμα (for the blood) ταύρων (of bulls) καὶ (and) τράγων (of goats) ἀφαιρεῖν (to take away) ἁμαρτίας (sins). 5  Διὸ (Therefore) εἰσερχόμενος (coming) εἰς (into) τὸν (the) κόσμον (world) λέγει (He says)·

Θυσίαν (Sacrifice) καὶ (and) προσφορὰν (offering) οὐκ (not) ἠθέλησας (You desired),

Σῶμα (a body) δὲ (however) κατηρτίσω (You prepared) μοι (for Me)·

6  Ὁλοκαυτώματα (Burnt offerings) καὶ (and) περὶ (concerning) ἁμαρτίας (sin offerings)

Οὐκ (not) εὐδόκησας (You were well pleased with).

7  Τότε (Then) εἶπον (I said)· Ἰδοὺ (Behold) ἥκω (I have come),

Ἐν (in) κεφαλίδι (the scroll) βιβλίου (of the book) γέγραπται (it has been written) περὶ (about) ἐμοῦ (Me),

Τοῦ (-) ποιῆσαι (to do) ὁ (-) Θεός (O God), τὸ (the) θέλημά (will) σου (of You).

8  Ἀνώτερον (Above) λέγων (saying) ὅτι (-) Θυσίας (Sacrifices) καὶ (and) προσφορὰς (offerings) καὶ (and) ὁλοκαυτώματα (burnt offerings) καὶ (and) περὶ (those for) ἁμαρτίας (sin) οὐκ (not) ἠθέλησας (You de) οὐδὲ (nor) εὐδόκησας (were You well pleased), αἵτινες (which) κατὰ (according to) νόμον (the law) προσφέρονται (are offered), 9  τότε (then) εἴρηκεν (He has said)· Ἰδοὺ (Behold) ἥκω (I have come) τοῦ (-) ποιῆσαι (to do) τὸ (the) θέλημά (will) σου (of You). ἀναιρεῖ (He takes away) τὸ (the) πρῶτον (first) ἵνα (so that) τὸ (the) δεύτερον (second) στήσῃ (He might establish). 10  ἐν (in) ᾧ (which) θελήματι (act of will) ἡγιασμένοι (having been sanctified) ἐσμὲν (we are) διὰ (through) τῆς (the) προσφορᾶς (offering) τοῦ (of the) σώματος (body) Ἰησοῦ (of Jesus) Χριστοῦ (Christ) ἐφάπαξ (once for all).

11  Καὶ (And) πᾶς (every) μὲν (indeed) ἱερεὺς (priest) ἕστηκεν (has stood) καθ’ (every) ἡμέραν (day) λειτουργῶν (serving) καὶ (and) τὰς (the) αὐτὰς (same) πολλάκις (many times) προσφέρων (offering) θυσίας (sacrifices), αἵτινες (which) οὐδέποτε (never) δύνανται (are able) περιελεῖν (to take away) ἁμαρτίας (sins)· 12  οὗτος (This One) δὲ (however) μίαν (one) ὑπὲρ (for) ἁμαρτιῶν (sins) προσενέγκας (having offered) θυσίαν (sacrifice) εἰς (unto) τὸ (-) διηνεκὲς (perpetuity) ἐκάθισεν (sat down) ἐν (at) δεξιᾷ (the right hand) τοῦ (-) Θεοῦ (of God), 13  τὸ (the) λοιπὸν (henceforth) ἐκδεχόμενος (awaiting) ἕως (until) τεθῶσιν (should be placed) οἱ (the) ἐχθροὶ (enemies) αὐτοῦ (of Him) ὑποπόδιον (as a footstool) τῶν (of the) ποδῶν (feet) αὐτοῦ (of Him). 14  μιᾷ (By one) γὰρ (for) προσφορᾷ (offering) τετελείωκεν (He has perfected) εἰς (unto) τὸ (-) διηνεκὲς (perpetuity) τοὺς (those) ἁγιαζομένους (being sanctified).

15  Μαρτυρεῖ (Testifies) δὲ (now) ἡμῖν (to us) καὶ (also) τὸ (the) Πνεῦμα (Spirit) τὸ (-) Ἅγιον (Holy)· μετὰ (after) γὰρ (For) τὸ (-) εἰρηκέναι (having said)·

16  Αὕτη (This is) ἡ (the) διαθήκη (covenant) ἣν (that) διαθήσομαι (I will make) πρὸς (with) αὐτοὺς (them)

μετὰ (after) τὰς (-) ἡμέρας (days) ἐκείνας (those), λέγει (says) Κύριος (the Lord)·

διδοὺς (giving) νόμους (laws) μου (of Me) ἐπὶ (on) καρδίας (hearts) αὐτῶν (of them),

καὶ (and) ἐπὶ (on) τὴν (the) διάνοιαν (mind) αὐτῶν (of them) ἐπιγράψω (I will inscribe) αὐτούς (them),

17  Καὶ (then He says)·

Τῶν (The) ἁμαρτιῶν (sins) αὐτῶν (of them) καὶ (and) τῶν (the) ἀνομιῶν (lawless acts) αὐτῶν (of them)

οὐ (no) μὴ (not) μνησθήσομαι (I will remember) ἔτι (anymore).

18  Ὅπου (Where there is) δὲ (now) ἄφεσις (forgiveness) τούτων (of these), οὐκέτι (no longer is there) προσφορὰ (an offering) περὶ (concerning) ἁμαρτίας (sin).

A Call to Persevere
(Jude 1:17–23)

19  Ἔχοντες (Having) οὖν (therefore), ἀδελφοί (brothers), παρρησίαν (confidence) εἰς (for) τὴν (-) εἴσοδον (entrance) τῶν (to the) ἁγίων (holy places) ἐν (in) τῷ (the) αἵματι (blood) Ἰησοῦ (of Jesus), 20  ἣν (which) ἐνεκαίνισεν (He inaugurated) ἡμῖν (for us) ὁδὸν (by a way) πρόσφατον (new) καὶ (and) ζῶσαν (living) διὰ (through) τοῦ (the) καταπετάσματος (veil), τοῦτ’ (that) ἔστιν (is) τῆς (the) σαρκὸς (flesh) αὐτοῦ (of Him), 21  καὶ (and having) ἱερέα (a priest) μέγαν (great) ἐπὶ (over) τὸν (the) οἶκον (house) τοῦ (-) Θεοῦ (of God), 22  προσερχώμεθα (we should come near) μετὰ (with) ἀληθινῆς (a true) καρδίας (heart) ἐν (in) πληροφορίᾳ (full assurance) πίστεως (of faith), ῥεραντισμένοι (having been sprinkled clean) τὰς (the) καρδίας (hearts) ἀπὸ (from) συνειδήσεως (a conscience) πονηρᾶς (evil) καὶ (and) λελουσμένοι (having been washed) τὸ (the) σῶμα (body) ὕδατι (with water) καθαρῷ (pure)·

23  Κατέχωμεν (We should hold fast) τὴν (to the) ὁμολογίαν (confession) τῆς (of our) ἐλπίδος (hope) ἀκλινῆ (unwavering), πιστὸς (faithful is) γὰρ (for) ὁ (the One) ἐπαγγειλάμενος (having promised), 24  καὶ (And) κατανοῶμεν (we should carefully consider) ἀλλήλους (one another) εἰς (toward) παροξυσμὸν (stirring up) ἀγάπης (to love) καὶ (and) καλῶν (to good) ἔργων (works), 25  μὴ (not) ἐγκαταλείποντες (forsaking) τὴν (the) ἐπισυναγωγὴν (assembling together) ἑαυτῶν (of ourselves), καθὼς (as) ἔθος (is the custom) τισίν (with some), ἀλλὰ (but) παρακαλοῦντες (exhorting), καὶ (and) τοσούτῳ (so much) μᾶλλον (more) ὅσῳ (as) βλέπετε (you⁺ see) ἐγγίζουσαν (drawing near) τὴν (the) ἡμέραν (Day).

26  Ἑκουσίως (If willingly) γὰρ (for) ἁμαρτανόντων (are sinning) ἡμῶν (we) μετὰ (after) τὸ (-) λαβεῖν (receiving) τὴν (the) ἐπίγνωσιν (knowledge) τῆς (of the) ἀληθείας (truth), οὐκέτι (there no longer) περὶ (for) ἁμαρτιῶν (sins) ἀπολείπεται (remains) θυσία (a sacrifice), 27  φοβερὰ (fearful) δέ (however) τις (only a) ἐκδοχὴ (expectation) κρίσεως (of judgment) καὶ (and) πυρὸς (of fire) ζῆλος (zeal) ἐσθίειν (to devour) μέλλοντος (being about) τοὺς (the) ὑπεναντίους (adversaries). 28  ἀθετήσας (Having set aside) τις (anyone) νόμον (the law) Μωϋσέως (of Moses) χωρὶς (without) οἰκτιρμῶν (mercies) ἐπὶ (on the basis of) δυσὶν (two) ἢ (or) τρισὶν (three) μάρτυσιν (witnesses) ἀποθνήσκει (he dies)· 29  πόσῳ (How much) δοκεῖτε (do you⁺ think) χείρονος (worse) ἀξιωθήσεται (he will be worthy of) τιμωρίας (punishment) ὁ (the one) τὸν (the) Υἱὸν (Son) τοῦ (-) Θεοῦ (of God) καταπατήσας (having trampled upon) καὶ (and) τὸ (the) αἷμα (blood) τῆς (of the) διαθήκης (covenant) κοινὸν (common) ἡγησάμενος (having deemed) ἐν (in) ᾧ (which) ἡγιάσθη (he was sanctified), καὶ (and) τὸ (the) Πνεῦμα (Spirit) τῆς (-) χάριτος (of grace) ἐνυβρίσας (having insulted).

30  Οἴδαμεν (We know) γὰρ (for) τὸν (the One) εἰπόντα (having said)· Ἐμοὶ (Mine) ἐκδίκησις (is vengeance), ἐγὼ (I) ἀνταποδώσω (will repay)· καὶ (and) πάλιν (again)· Κρινεῖ (Will judge) Κύριος (the Lord) τὸν (the) λαὸν (people) αὐτοῦ (of Him). 31  φοβερὸν (It is a fearful thing) τὸ (-) ἐμπεσεῖν (to fall) εἰς (into) χεῖρας (the hands) Θεοῦ (of God) ζῶντος (the living).

32  Ἀναμιμνῄσκεσθε (Recall) δὲ (however) τὰς (the) πρότερον (former) ἡμέρας (days), ἐν (in) αἷς (which) φωτισθέντες (having been enlightened) πολλὴν (a great) ἄθλησιν (conflict) ὑπεμείνατε (you⁺ endured) παθημάτων (of sufferings), 33  τοῦτο (this) μὲν (indeed) ὀνειδισμοῖς (by revilings) τε (both) καὶ (and) θλίψεσιν (tribulations) θεατριζόμενοι (being made a spectacle), τοῦτο (this) δὲ (now) κοινωνοὶ (partners) τῶν (of those) οὕτως (thus) ἀναστρεφομένων (being treated) γενηθέντες (having become). 34  καὶ (Also) γὰρ (for) τοῖς (with the) δεσμίοις (prisoners) συνεπαθήσατε (you⁺ sympathized), καὶ (and) τὴν (the) ἁρπαγὴν (plundering) τῶν (of the) ὑπαρχόντων (possessions) ὑμῶν (of you⁺) μετὰ (with) χαρᾶς (joy) προσεδέξασθε (you⁺ accepted), γινώσκοντες (knowing) ἔχειν (to have) ἑαυτοὺς (yourselves) κρείττονα (a better) ὕπαρξιν (possession) καὶ (and) μένουσαν (abiding).

35  Μὴ (Not) ἀποβάλητε (throw away) οὖν (therefore) τὴν (the) παρρησίαν (confidence) ὑμῶν (of you⁺), ἥτις (which) ἔχει (has) μεγάλην (a great) μισθαποδοσίαν (reward). 36  ὑπομονῆς (Of perseverance) γὰρ (for) ἔχετε (you⁺ have) χρείαν (need) ἵνα (so that) τὸ (the) θέλημα (will) τοῦ (-) Θεοῦ (of God) ποιήσαντες (having done) κομίσησθε (you⁺ may receive) τὴν (the) ἐπαγγελίαν (promise). 37  ἔτι (Yet)

γὰρ (for)· Μικρὸν (A little) ὅσον (very) ὅσον (while),

ὁ (the One) ἐρχόμενος (coming) ἥξει (will come) καὶ (and) οὐ (not) χρονίσει (will delay)·

38  ὁ (The one) δὲ (however) δίκαιός (righteous) μου (of Me) ἐκ (by) πίστεως (faith) ζήσεται (will live),

καὶ (and) ἐὰν (if) ὑποστείληται (he might shrink back),

οὐκ (not) εὐδοκεῖ (is well pleased) ἡ (the) ψυχή (soul) μου (of Me) ἐν (in) αὐτῷ (him).

39  Ἡμεῖς (We) δὲ (however) οὐκ (not) ἐσμὲν (are) ὑποστολῆς (of those shrinking back) εἰς (to) ἀπώλειαν (destruction), ἀλλὰ (but) πίστεως (of faith) εἰς (to) περιποίησιν (the preserving) ψυχῆς (of the soul).