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The Old Covenant

¹ Now even the first covenant had ^(C1)requirements of divine worship and ^(C2)the earthly sanctuary.² For there was ^(C1)a tabernacle prepared: the first part, in which were ^(C2)the lampstand and ^(C3)the table and ^(C4)the ^(F1)sacred bread, which is called the holy place.³ And behind ^(C1)the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the ^(C2)Holy of Holies,⁴ having a golden ^(F1)(C1)altar of incense and ^(C2)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^(C3)a golden jar holding the manna, and ^(C4)Aaron's rod which budded, and ^(C5)the tablets of the covenant.⁵ And above it were the ^(C1)cherubim of glory ^(C2)overshadowing the ^(F1)mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

⁶ Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests ^(C1)are continually entering the first part of the tabernacle performing the divine worship,⁷ but into ^(C1)the second, only ^(C2)the high priest enters ^(C3)once a year, ^(C4)not without taking blood, which he ^(C5)offers for himself and for the ^(F1)(C6)sins of the people committed in ignorance.^8 (C1)The Holy Spirit is indicating this, ^(C2)that the way into the holy places has not yet been manifested while that first part of the tabernacle is still standing,⁹ which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly ^(C1)both gifts and sacrifices are offered which ^(C2)cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience,¹⁰ since they relate only to ^(C1)food and ^(C2)drink and various ^(C3)washings, ^(C4)requirements for the ^(F1)body imposed until ^(C5)a time of reformation.

The New Covenant

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a ^(C1)high priest of the ^(C2)good things ^(F1)to come, He entered through ^(C3)the greater and more perfect tabernacle, ^(C4)not made with hands, that is to say, ^(C5)not of this creation,¹² and not through ^(C1)the blood of goats and calves, but ^(C2)through His own blood, He ^(C3)entered the holy places ^(C4)once for all, ^(F1)having obtained ^(C5)eternal redemption.¹³ For if ^(C1)the blood of goats and bulls and ^(C2)the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the ^(F1)cleansing of the flesh,¹⁴ how much more will ^(C1)the blood of Christ, who through ^(F1)(C2)the eternal Spirit ^(C3)offered Himself without blemish to God, ^(C4)cleanse ^(F2)your conscience from ^(C5)dead works to serve ^(C6)the living God?

¹⁵ And for this reason ^(C1)He is the ^(C2)mediator of a ^(C3)new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the trespasses that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been ^(C4)called may ^(C5)receive the promise of ^(C6)the eternal inheritance.¹⁶ For where a ^(F1)covenant is, there must of necessity ^(F2)be the death of the one who made it.¹⁷ For a ^(F1)covenant is valid only when ^(F2)men are dead, ^(F3)for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.¹⁸ Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.¹⁹ For when every commandment had been ^(C1)spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, ^(C2)he took the ^(C3)blood of the calves and the goats, with ^(C4)water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both ^(C5)the book itself and all the people,²⁰ saying, "^(C1)THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU."²¹ And in the same way, both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he ^(C1)sprinkled with the blood.²² And according to the ^(F1)Law, one may ^(C1)almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and ^(C2)without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

²³ Therefore it was necessary for the ^(C1)copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but ^(C1)the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.²⁴ For Christ ^(C1)did not enter holy places made with hands, mere copies of ^(C2)the true ones, but into ^(C3)heaven itself, now ^(C4)to appear in the presence of God for us;²⁵ nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as ^(C1)the high priest enters ^(C2)the holy places ^(C1)year by year with blood that is not his own.²⁶ Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since ^(C1)the foundation of the world; but now ^(C2)once at ^(C3)the consummation of the ages He has been ^(C4)manifested to put away sin ^(F1)(C5)by the sacrifice of Himself.²⁷ And inasmuch as ^(C1)it is ^(F1)appointed for men to die once and after this ^(C2)comes judgment,²⁸ so Christ also, having been ^(C1)offered once to ^(C2)bear the sins of many, will appear ^(C3)a second time for ^(C4)salvation ^(C5)without reference to sin, to those who ^(C6)eagerly await Him.