1. Then truly the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and an earthly sanctuary.
2. For there was an apartment made; the first, in which was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the Holy Place.
3. And behind the second veil, the apartment which is called the Holiest of all;
4. Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, in which was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5. And over it the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak in detail.
6. Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first apartment, accomplishing the service of God.
7. But 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:
8. The Holy Spirit signifying this, that the way into the sanctuary was not yet made known, while the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9. Which was a representation of the present time, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices that could not make him who did the service perfect with respect to the conscience;
10. Which were only concerned with foods and drinks, and various washings, and fleshly ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
11. But Christ being come a 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;
12. Neither 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.
13. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh:
14. How 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?
15. And for this reason he is the mediator of the new covenant, that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, those who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17. For a testament is in force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives.
18. Therefore neither was the first covenant dedicated without blood.
19. For 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,
20. Saying, This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded for you.
21. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.
22. And almost all things are by the law cleansed with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23. It 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.
24. For Christ has not entered into the sanctuary made with hands, which is a representation of the true one; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25. Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the sanctuary every year with blood of others;
26. For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the completion of the age has he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27. And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this comes the judgment:
28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to those who look for him shall he appear the second time without sin for salvation.
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