Hebrews 9

The Earthly Holy Place

1Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and aan earthly place of holiness. 2For ba tent
Or tabernacle; also verses 11, 21
was prepared, the first section, in which were dthe lampstand and ethe table and fthe bread of the Presence.
Greek  the presentation of the loaves
It is called the Holy Place.
3Behind hthe second curtain was a second section
Greek tent; also verses 6, 8
called the Most Holy Place,
4having the golden jaltar of incense and kthe ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was la golden urn holding the manna, and mAaron’s staff that budded, and nthe tablets of the covenant. 5Above it were othe cherubim of glory overshadowing pthe mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6These preparations having thus been made, qthe priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7but into the second only rthe high priest goes, and he but sonce a year, and not without taking blood, twhich he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8By this the Holy Spirit indicates that uthe way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9(which is symbolic for the present age).
Or  which is symbolic for the age then present
According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered wthat cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,
10but deal only with xfood and drink and yvarious washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

11But when Christ appeared as a high priest zof the good things that have come,
Some manuscripts  good things to come
then through abthe greater and more perfect tent ( acnot made with hands, that is, not of this creation)
12he adentered aeonce for all into the holy places, not by means of afthe blood of goats and calves but agby means of his own blood, ahthus securing an eternal redemption. 13For if aithe blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with ajthe ashes of a heifer, sanctify
Or  For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies
for the purification of the flesh,
14how much more will althe blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit amoffered himself without blemish to God, anpurify our
Some manuscripts your
conscience apfrom dead works aqto serve the living God.

15Therefore he is arthe mediator of a new covenant, so that asthose who are called may atreceive the promised eternal inheritance, ausince a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
The Greek word means both  covenant and will; also verses 16, 17
16For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17For awa will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated axwithout blood. 19For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took aythe blood of calves and goats, azwith water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20saying, baThis is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both bbthe tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and bcwithout the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

23Thus it was necessary for bdthe copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ has entered, not into holy places bemade with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God bfon our behalf. 25Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as bgthe high priest enters bhthe holy places every year with blood not his own, 26for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, bihe has appeared bjonce for all bkat the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27And just as blit is appointed for man to die once, and bmafter that comes judgment, 28so Christ, having been offered once bnto bear the sins of bomany, will appear bpa second time, bqnot to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly brwaiting for him.

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