Hebrews

The epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews, chapter 8, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 8 New English Translation

The High Priest of a Better Covenant

   1 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We have such a high priest, one who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that the LORD, not man, set up. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. So this one too had to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 The place where they serve is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, just as Moses was warned by God as he was about to complete the tabernacle. For he says, "See that you make everything according to the design shown to you on the mountain." 6 But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises.
   7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, no one would have looked for a second one. 8 But showing its fault, God says to them, "Look, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
   9 "It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the LORD.
   10 "For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD. I will put my laws in their minds and I will inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God and they will be my people.
   11 "And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying, 'Know the LORD, ' since they will all know me, from the least to the greatest.
   12 "For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer."
   13 When he speaks of a new covenant, he makes the first obsolete. Now what is growing obsolete and aging is about to disappear.

King James Version

   1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
   2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
   3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
   4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
   5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
   6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
   7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
   8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
   9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
   10 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 write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
   11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
   12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
   13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.