| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. | 1Now the first covenant, in fact, had regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary. |
| 2For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; | 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. |
| 3and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, | 3And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies. |
| 4which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod 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. |
| 5and above 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. |
| 6Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. | 6So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties. |
| 7But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; | 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. |
| 8the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was 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. |
| 9It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— | 9This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper. |
| 10concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances 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 Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle 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, |
| 12Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained 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 bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying 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 shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your 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. |
| 15And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. | 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 there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. | 16For where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be proven. |
| 17For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. | 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 dedicated without blood. | 18So even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood. |
| 19For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, 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 which God has commanded you.” | 20and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep." |
| 21Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. | 21And both the tabernacle and all the utensils of worship he likewise sprinkled with blood. |
| 22And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. | 22Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. |
| 23Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, 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 not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; | 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. |
| 25not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— | 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, |
| 26He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared 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 as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, | 27And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment, |
| 28so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. | 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. |
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