1 FOR the Law with a shadow of the good things that are coming, but not the very likeness of the things, cannot, by the same sacrifices which they offer constantly every year, ever make perfect those who come,
2 since would they not have ceased offering them? Because the worshipers, once for all cleansed, would have had no consciousness of sins.
3 But in the sacrifices these are called to mind every year.
4 For the blood of bulls and goats is powerless to take away sins.
5 Therefore on coming into the world he says, "Sacrifice and offering thou dost not desire: a body thou hast prepared for me.
6 Whole burnt offerings and sin offerings thou dost not delight in.
7 Then I said, 'Here I have come \'97 in the roll of the book it is written of me \'97 to do thy will, O God.' "
8 He first says, "Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin offerings thou dost not desire nor delight in," such as are offered according to the Law,
9 and then he says, "Here I have come to do thy will." He takes away the first to establish the second.
10 By this "will" we are made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 Every priest stands daily doing service and offering many times the same sacrifices, although they never can take away sins.
12 But this Priest after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, took his seat at the right hand of God,
13 for the future only waiting until his enemies are made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he has forever perfected those who are made holy.
15 The Holy Spirit testifies this to us; for after having said,
16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts and on their minds I will write them," he adds,
17 "and their sins and their law-breakings I will remember no more."
18 But where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
19 Since we have, then, brethren, confidence in entering the holy place through the blood of Jesus,
20 by the new and living way which he has made for us through the curtain, that is, his flesh,
21 and since we have a great Priest over the house of God,
22 let us come with true hearts in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies bathed in pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he is faithful who has promised,
24 and let us keep watch to incite one another to love and noble deeds,
25 not neglecting to assemble yourselves, as some do, but encouraging one another, and so much the more, as you see the day drawing near.
26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there remains no longer any sacrifice for sins,
27 but a dreadful expectation of doom and a fury of fire that will devour the opposers.
28 Any one who sets aside a law of Moses dies without pity on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
29 Of how much worse punishment do you think he will be judged worthy who has trampled on the Son of God, who has thought the blood of the covenant, by which it was made holy, an unholy thing, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people."
31 It is dreadful to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 Remember the early days in which, after being enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings,
33 at one time made a public spectacle by reproaches and distresses, at another time making common cause with those who were thus treated.
34 For you even suffered with the prisoners and accepted the plundering of your property with joy, knowing that you had a better and enduring possession.
35 Do not, then, cast away your confidence, for it will have a great reward.
36 You have need of patience so that after doing the will of God you may gain the promised blessing.
37 For yet "a little, very little, while, and he who is coming will come and will not delay.
38 My righteous man will live by faith; but if he shrinks back, my soul has no delight in him."
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and perish, but of those who have faith and will win their souls.