| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. | 1Now the first covenant, in fact, had regulations for worship and its 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 tent was prepared, the outer one, which contained the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; this is called the holy place. |
| 3Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, | 3And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies. |
| 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 golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron's rod that 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. | 5And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail. |
| 6These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, | 6So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties. |
| 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 enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that 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 is making clear that the way into the holy place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was 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 was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect 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 served only for matters of food and drink and various washings; they are external regulations imposed until the new order came. |
| 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 now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent 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. | 12and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured 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 sprinkled on those who are defiled consecrated them and provided ritual purity, |
| 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 Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship 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. | 15And so he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant. |
| 16For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. | 16For where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be proven. |
| 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 takes effect only at death, since it carries no force while the one who made it is alive. |
| 18Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. | 18So 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 Moses had spoken every command to all the people according to the law, 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, |
| 20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” | 20and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that 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. | 21And both the tabernacle and all the utensils of worship he likewise sprinkled with blood. |
| 22Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. | 22Indeed according to the law almost everything was 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. | 23So it was necessary for the sketches of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves required 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 hands--the representation of the true sanctuary--but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God's presence for us. |
| 25Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, | 25And he did not enter to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after 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. | 26for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice. |
| 27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, | 27And just as people are appointed to die once, and then 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 also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation. |
|
