26

that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than 27 the heavens; who needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people: for this he did once for 28 all, when he offered up himself. For the law appointeth men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, appointeth a Son, perfected for evermore.

8 Now in the things which we are saying the chief point is this: We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heav2 ens, a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true taber3 nacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. For every

high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is necessary that this high priest also have 4 somewhat to offer. Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are those who offer 5 the gifts according to the law; who serve that which is a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses is warned of God when he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was shewed thee in the 6 mount. But now hath he obtained a ministry the more excellent, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which hath been enacted upon better 7 promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, he saith,

10

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord,

That I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers

In the day that I took them by the hand to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt;

For they continued not in my covenant,

And I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

For this is the covenant that I will make. with the house of Israel

After those days, saith the Lord;

I will put my laws into their mind,

And on their heart also will I write them:

And I will be to them a God,

And they shall be to me a people:

11'

12

And they shall not. teach every man his fellow-
citizen,

And every man his brother, saying, Know the
Lord:

For all shall know me,

From the least to the greatest of them.

For I will be merciful to their iniquities,

And their sins will I remember no more.

13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. But that which is becoming old and waxeth aged is nigh unto vanishing away.

9

Now even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and its sanctuary, a sanctuary of this world. 2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first, wherein were the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; 3 which is called the Holy place. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies; 4 having a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, 5 and the tables of the covenant; and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things 6 we cannot now speak severally. Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into 7 the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services; but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offereth for himself, and for 8 the errors of the people: the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest, while as the first tabernacle is yet standing; 9 which is a parable for the time now present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper 10 perfect, being only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.

11 But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of 12 this creation, nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemp13 tion. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanc14 tify unto the cleanness of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your

conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of 16 the eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. 17 For a testament is of force where there hath been death:

for doth it ever avail while he that made it liveth? 18 Wherefore even the first covenant hath not been dedi19 cated without blood. For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses unto all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled 20 both the book itself, and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded to 21 you-ward. Moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels

of the ministry he sprinkled in like manner with the 22 blood. And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.

23

It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacri24 fices than these. For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God 25 for us: nor yet that he should offer himself often; as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year 28 with blood not his own; else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put 27 away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And inasmuch as

it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this 28 cometh judgement; so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.

10 For the law having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things, they can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer 2 continually, make perfect them that draw nigh. Else would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have 3 had no more conscience of sins? But in those sacrifices 4 there is a remembrance made of sins year by year. For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should

5 take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith,

6

7

Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not,

But a body didst thou prepare for me;

In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hadst no pleasure:

Then said I, Lo, I am come

(In the roll of the book it is written of me)
To do thy will, O God.

8 Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according 9 to the law), then hath he said, Lo, I am come to do thy will. He taketh away the first, that he may establish 10 the second. By which will we have been sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once 11 for all. And every priest indeed standeth day by day ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, 12 the which can never take away sins: but he, when he

had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on 13 the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till 14 his enemies be made the footstool of his feet. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are 15 sanctified. And the Holy Ghost also beareth witness to us: for after he hath said,

16

17

This is the covenant that I will make with them
After those days, saith the Lord;

I will put my laws on their heart,

And upon their mind also will I write them;

then saith he,

And their sins and their iniquities will I remember

no more.

18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

19

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the 20 holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the 21 veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having a great priest 22 over the house of God; let us draw near with a true

heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our body washed with 23 pure water: let us hold fast the confession of our hope 24 that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised: and

let us consider one another to provoke unto love and 25 good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one

26

another; and so much the more, as ye see the day draw. ing nigh.

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sac27 rifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgement, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour 28 the adversaries. A man that hath set at nought

Moses' law dieth without compassion on the word of two 29 or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, The Lord shall 31 judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32

But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict 33 of sufferings; partly, being made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, becoming par34 takers with them that were so used. For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your possessions, knowing that ye yourselves have a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Cast not away therefore your boldness, which hath 36 great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise.

37

38

For yet a very little while,

He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry.
But my righteous one shall live by faith:

And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in

him.

39 But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul. 11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the 2 proving of things not seen. For therein the elders 3 had witness borne to them. By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of 4 things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith