Hebrews 9

1Even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary.

2For a first tabernacle was prepared, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence, which is called the Holy Place.

3And behind the second curtain was a tabernacle called the Most Holy Place,

4having the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which were a golden jar holding the manna, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant,

5And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the atoning sacrifice; about these things it is not now possible to speak in detail.

6With these things prepared in this way, the priests continually enter the first tabernacle, performing the services,

7But into the second room only the high priest enters once a year, and not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance.

8By this the Holy Spirit is indicating that the way into the holy places has not yet been revealed while the first tabernacle still has standing,

9which is a parable for the present time, according to which both gifts and sacrifices are offered that are not able to perfect the worshiper with respect to conscience,

10concerned only with foods and drinks and various washings, fleshly regulations imposed until the time of reformation.

11But the Messiah came as high priest of the good things that have come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands—that is, not of this creation—

12and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, he entered once for all into the holy places, having obtained eternal redemption.

13For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer that sprinkle those who have been defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,

14how much more will the blood of Messiah—who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God—cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

15And for this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

16For where there is a covenant, it is necessary for the death of the one who made it to be brought forward.

17For a covenant is valid over dead ones, since it is never in force while the one who made it is living.

18Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.

19For when every commandment according to the law had been spoken by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of the calves with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people,

20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.”

21And likewise he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.

22And according to the law, almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

24For Messiah did not enter into holy places made by hands, copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

25Nor was it so that he might offer himself many times, just as the high priest enters the holy places year by year with blood not his own,

26Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin through the sacrifice of himself.

27And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment,

28so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, apart from sin, to those who eagerly await him, for salvation.