Hebrews

The epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews, chapter 10, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 10 New English Translation

Concluding Exposition: Old and New Sacrifices Contrasted

   1 For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship. 2 For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have no further consciousness of sin? 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. 4 For the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. 5 So when he came into the world, he said, "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.
   6 "Whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you took no delight in.
   7 "Then I said, 'Here I am: I have come - it is written of me in the scroll of the book - to do your will, O God.'"
   8 When he says above, "Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you did not desire nor did you take delight in them" (which are offered according to the law), 9 then he says, "Here I am: I have come to do your will." He does away with the first to establish the second. 10 By his will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands day after day serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again - sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 where he is now waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy. 15 And the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us, for after saying, 16 "This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days, says the LORD. I will put my laws on their hearts and I will inscribe them on their minds, " 17 then he says, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer." 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Drawing Near to God in Enduring Faith

   19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy. 24 And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, 25 not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.
   26 For if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us, 27 but only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume God's enemies. 28 Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt for the Son of God, and profanes the blood of the covenant that made him holy, and insults the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the one who said, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, " and again, "The LORD will judge his people." 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
   32 But remember the former days when you endured a harsh conflict of suffering after you were enlightened. 33 At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and afflictions, and at other times you came to share with others who were treated in that way. 34 For in fact you shared the sufferings of those in prison, and you accepted the confiscation of your belongings with joy, because you knew that you certainly had a better and lasting possession. 35 So do not throw away your confidence, because it has great reward. 36 For you need endurance in order to do God's will and so receive what is promised. 37 For just a little longer and he who is coming will arrive and not delay. 38 But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I take no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not among those who shrink back and thus perish, but are among those who have faith and preserve their souls.

King James Version

   1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
   2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
   3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
   4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
   5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
   6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
   7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
   8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
   9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
   10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
   11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
   12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
   13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
   14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
   15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
   16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
   17 And their sins and 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 holiest by the blood of Jesus,
   20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
   21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
   22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
   23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
   24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
   25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
   26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
   27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
   28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
   29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought 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 hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
   31 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 illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
   33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
   34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
   35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
   36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
   37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
   38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
   39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.