| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. | 1Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an 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 tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves. |
| 3and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, | 3Behind the second curtain, the tabernacle was called the most holy place. |
| 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 gold altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, covered with gold on all sides, in which there was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron's staff that budded, and the 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. | 5The cherubim of glory were above it overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now. |
| 6Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. | 6With these things set up this way, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry. |
| 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 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 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 was making it clear that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still 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 is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper's conscience. |
| 10concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. | 10They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of restoration. |
| 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 the Messiah has appeared, high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle 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. | 12He entered the most holy place once for all, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained 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, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, |
| 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 the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve 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. | 15Therefore, He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. |
| 16For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. | 16Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established. |
| 17For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. | 17For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in force while the one who made it is living. |
| 18Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. | 18That is why 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 every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people, |
| 20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” | 20saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded for you. |
| 21Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. | 21In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood. |
| 22And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. | 22According to the law almost everything is 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. | 23Therefore 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. |
| 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 the Messiah did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that He might now appear in the presence of God for us. |
| 25not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— | 25He did not do this to offer Himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another. |
| 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. | 26Otherwise, 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, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of Himself. |
| 27And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, | 27And just as it is appointed for people to die once--and after this, 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 the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him. |
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