To the Hebrews
10 For since the Law has a shadow+ of the good things to come, but not the very substance of the things, [men] can never with the same sacrifices from year to year which they offer continually make those who approach perfect.+ 2 Otherwise, would the [sacrifices] not have stopped being offered, because those rendering sacred service* who had been cleansed once for all time would have no consciousness of sins anymore?+ 3 To the contrary, by these sacrifices there is a reminding of sins from year to year,+ 4 for it is not possible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take sins away.+
5 Hence when he comes into the world he says: “‘Sacrifice and offering you did not want,+ but you prepared a body for me.+ 6 You did not approve of whole burnt offerings* and sin [offering].’+ 7 Then I said, ‘Look! I am come (in the roll of the book* it is written about me)+ to do your will, O God.’”+ 8 After first saying: “You did not want nor did you approve of sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin [offering]”+—[sacrifices] that are offered according to the Law+— 9 then he actually says: “Look! I am come to do your will.”*+ He does away with what is first that he may establish what is second.+ 10 By the said “will”+ we have been sanctified+ through the offering+ of the body of Jesus Christ once+ for all time.
11 Also, every priest takes his station+ from day to day+ to render public service and to offer the same sacrifices often, as these are at no time able to take sins away completely.+ 12 But this [man] offered one sacrifice for sins perpetually+ and sat down at the right hand of God,+ 13 from then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for his feet.+ 14 For it is by one [sacrificial] offering+ that he has made those who are being sanctified perfect+ perpetually. 15 Moreover, the holy spirit+ also bears witness to us, for after it has said: 16 “‘This is the covenant that I shall covenant toward them after those days,’ says Jehovah.* ‘I will put my laws in their hearts, and in their minds I shall write them,’”+ 17 [it says afterwards:]* “And I shall by no means call their sins and their lawless deeds to mind anymore.”+ 18 Now where there is forgiveness+ of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.+
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness* for the way of entry+ into the holy place*+ by the blood of Jesus, 20 which he inaugurated for us as a new and living way through the curtain,+ that is, his flesh,+ 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,+ 22 let us approach with true hearts in the full assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled from a wicked conscience+ and our bodies bathed with clean water.+ 23 Let us hold fast the public declaration* of our hope+ without wavering,+ for he is faithful+ that promised. 24 And let us consider one another to incite+ to love and fine works,+ 25 not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together,+ as some have the custom, but encouraging+ one another, and all the more so as YOU behold the day drawing near.+
26 For if we practice sin willfully+ after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth,+ there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left,+ 27 but [there is] a certain fearful expectation of judgment+ and [there is] a fiery jealousy that is going to consume those in opposition.+ 28 Any man that has disregarded the law of Moses dies without compassion, upon the testimony of two or three.+ 29 Of how much more severe a punishment,+ do YOU think, will the man be counted worthy who has trampled+ upon the Son of God and who has esteemed as of ordinary value the blood+ of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has outraged the spirit+ of undeserved kindness with contempt? 30 For we know him that said: “Vengeance is mine; I will recompense”;*+ and again: “Jehovah* will judge his people.”+ 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of [the] living God.+
32 However, keep on remembering the former days in which, after YOU were enlightened,+ YOU endured a great contest under sufferings,+ 33 sometimes while YOU were being exposed as in a theater+ both to reproaches and tribulations, and sometimes while YOU became sharers with those who were having such an experience.+ 34 For YOU both expressed sympathy for those in prison and joyfully took the plundering+ of YOUR belongings, knowing YOU yourselves have a better and an abiding possession.+
35 Do not, therefore, throw away YOUR freeness of speech,+ which has a great reward+ to be paid it. 36 For YOU have need of endurance,+ in order that, after YOU have done the will of God,+ YOU may receive the [fulfillment of the] promise.+ 37 For yet “a very little while,”+ and “he who is coming will arrive and will not delay.”+ 38 “But my righteous one will live by reason of faith,”+ and, “if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”+ 39 Now we are not the sort that shrink back to destruction,+ but the sort that have faith to the preserving alive of the soul.+