| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. | 1Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. |
| 2For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. | 2A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. |
| 3And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; | 3Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, |
| 4Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; | 4which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. |
| 5And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. | 5Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. |
| 6Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. | 6When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. |
| 7But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: | 7But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. |
| 8The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: | 8The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. |
| 9Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; | 9This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. |
| 10Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. | 10They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings--external regulations applying until the time of the new order. |
| 11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; | 11But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. |
| 12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. | 12He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. |
| 13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: | 13The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. |
| 14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? | 14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! |
| 15And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. | 15For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. |
| 16For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. | 16In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, |
| 17For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. | 17because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. |
| 18Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. | 18This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. |
| 19For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, | 19When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. |
| 20Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. | 20He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep." |
| 21Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. | 21In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. |
| 22And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. | 22In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. |
| 23It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. | 23It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. |
| 24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures 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 human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. |
| 25Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; | 25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. |
| 26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. | 26Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. |
| 27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: | 27Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, |
| 28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. | 28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. |
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