Hebrews 9  Christian Standard Bible

Old Covenant Ministry

9 Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an earthly sanctuary. ² For a tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves.^{(A) 3} Behind the second curtain was a tent called the most holy place.^{(B) 4} It had the gold altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, covered with gold on all sides, in which was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.^{(C) 5} The cherubim of glory were above the ark overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now.^(D)

⁶ With these things prepared like this, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry.^{(E) 7} But the high priest alone enters the second room, and he does that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.^{(F) 8} The Holy Spirit was making it clear that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still standing.^{(G) 9} This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper’s conscience.^{(H) 10} They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of the new order.^(I)

New Covenant Ministry

¹¹ But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come.^[a] In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation^(J)), ¹² he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.^{(K) 13} For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,^{(L) 14} how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit^(M) offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our^[b] consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?^(N)

¹⁵ Therefore, he is the mediator^(O) of a new covenant,^[c](P) so that those who are called might receive the promise^(Q) of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.^{(R) 16} Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in effect while the one who made it is living. ¹⁸ That is why even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood. ¹⁹ For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats,^[d] along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people,^{(S) 20} saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you.^{[e](T) 21} In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood.^{(U) 22} According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(V)

²³ Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these.^{(W) 24} For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model^[f] of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us.^{(X) 25} He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another.^{(Y) 26} Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages,^(Z) for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.^{(AA) 27} And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment^(AB)— ²⁸ so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,^(AC) will appear a second time,^(AD) not to bear sin, but^[g] to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.^(AE)