The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Part 53

(7)For if that first had been faultless, a place would not have been sought for the second. (8)For finding fault with them, he says[8:8]:

Behold the days are coming, saith the Lord, When I will make with the house of Israel, And with the house of Judah, a new covenant; (9)Not according to the covenant that I made for their fathers, In the day when I took hold of their hand, To bring 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 establish for the house of Israel, After those days, saith the Lord, Putting my laws into their mind, And on their hearts I will write them; And I will be to them a G.o.d, And they shall be to me a people; (11)And they shall not teach, Each one his neighbor, and each one his brother, Saying: Know the Lord; Because all shall know me, from the least to the greatest; (12)Because I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, And their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more.

(13)In that he says, A new, he has made the first old. Now that which is grown old, and worn out with age, is ready to vanish away.

IX.

NOW the first had indeed also ordinances of service, and the worldly sanctuary. (2)For a tabernacle was prepared; the first, wherein is the lamp-stand, and the table, and the show-bread; which is called holy.

(3)And after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called most holy, (4)having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on every side with gold, wherein was the golden pot containing the manna, and the rod of Aaron which budded, and the tables of the covenant; (5)and above it the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which we can not now speak particularly.

(6)Now these things being thus prepared, into the first tabernacle the priests enter at all times, performing the services; (7)but into the second, the high priest alone, once every year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people; (8)the Holy Spirit signifying this, that the way into the holy places has not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing; (9)which is a figure for the time present, under which are offered both gifts and sacrifices, unable as to the conscience to perfect the wors.h.i.+per; (10)only with meats and drinks[9:10], and divers immersions, ordinances of the flesh, imposed until the time of reformation. (11)But Christ, having come as a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), (12)and not through the blood of goats and calves but through his own blood, entered once for all into the holy places, obtaining eternal redemption. (13)For if the blood of goats and bulls, and ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctifies to the purity of the flesh; (14)how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to G.o.d, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living G.o.d? (15)And for this cause he is mediator of a new covenant, in order that, death having taken place, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, they who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

(16)For where there is a testament[9:16], there must also of necessity be brought in the death of the testator. (17)For a testament is of force after men are dead; since it is of no strength at all while the testator lives.

(18)Wherefore, neither has the first been dedicated without blood.

(19)For, when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and of the goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying: (20)This is the blood of the covenant, which G.o.d enjoined in respect to you. (21)And moreover, the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the service, he in like manner sprinkled with blood. (22)And nearly all things are cleansed according to the law with blood; and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

(23)It was therefore necessary, that the outlines of things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves, with better sacrifices than these. (24)For Christ entered not into holy places made with hands, figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of G.o.d for us; (25)nor yet that he should many times offer himself, as the high priest enters into the holy places every year with blood of others; (26)for then must he many times have suffered since the foundation of the world; but now once, in the end of the ages, he has been manifested for the putting away of sin by the sacrifice of himself[9:26]. (27)And inasmuch as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment; (28)so also the Christ, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, will to those who look for him appear a second time without sin, unto salvation.

X.

FOR the law having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things, can never, with the same sacrifices which they offer year by year continually, make those who come to them[10:1]

perfect. (2)For then would they not have ceased to be offered, because the wors.h.i.+pers would have had no more consciousness of sins, having once been cleansed? (3)But in them there is a remembrance of sins year by year. (4)For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (5)Wherefore, when he comes into the world, he says:

Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me; (6)In whole burnt-offerings, and sacrifices for sin, thou hadst 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 G.o.d.

(8)Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou wouldest not, nor hadst pleasure therein, which are offered by the law, (9)then has he said: Lo, I come to do thy will, O G.o.d. He takes away the first, that he may establish the second. (10)In which will we have been sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

(11)And every priest[10:11] indeed stands daily ministering, and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; (12)but he, having offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of G.o.d; (13)from henceforth expecting until his enemies be made his footstool. (14)For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified. (15)Moreover, the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us; for after he had said, (16)This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, putting my laws upon their hearts, and on their minds I will write them, [he further says,] (17)and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more. (18)But where there is remission of these, there is no longer offering for sin.

(19)Having therefore, brethren, boldness as to the entrance into the holy places by the blood of Jesus, which [entrance] he inst.i.tuted for us, (20)a new and living way, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh; (21)and having a great priest over the house of G.o.d; (22)Let us draw near with a true heart in full a.s.surance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience; and having had our body washed with pure water, (23)let us hold fast the profession of the hope without wavering, for he is faithful who promised; (24)and let us consider one another, to incite to love and to good works; (25)not forsaking the a.s.sembling of ourselves together, as is the custom of some, but exhorting, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.

(26)For if we willingly sin, after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, (27)but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and a fiery indignation, which will devour the adversaries. (28)He that despised Moses' law died without mercy, under two or three witnesses. (29)Of how much worse punishment, suppose ye, will he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of G.o.d, and has accounted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite to the Spirit of grace? (30)For we know him who said: To me belongs vengeance; I will recompense, saith the Lord; and again: The Lord will judge his people. (31)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living G.o.d.

(32)But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great contest of sufferings; (33)partly, whilst ye were made a spectacle both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became partakers with those who were so used.

(34)For ye sympathized with those in bonds, and ye took joyfully the plundering of your goods, knowing that ye have for yourselves a better and an enduring substance.

(35)Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward. (36)For ye have need of patience, that having done the will of G.o.d ye may receive the promise. (37)For yet a little while, he that is to come will come, and will not delay. (38)Now, the just shall live by faith; but if he draw back, my soul has no pleasure in him. (39)But we are not of those who draw back unto perdition; but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

XI.

NOW faith is the a.s.surance of things hoped for[11:1], the conviction of things not seen. (2)For in this the elders obtained a good report.

(3)Through faith we perceive that the worlds were framed by the word of G.o.d, so that what is seen has not arisen[11:3] out of things which appear.

(4)By faith Abel offered to G.o.d a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he received testimony that he was righteous, G.o.d testifying of his gifts; and through it, being dead, he yet speaks.

(5)By faith Enoch was translated, that he should not see death; and he was not found, because G.o.d translated him; for before his translation, he has had the testimony that he pleased G.o.d. (6)But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he who comes to G.o.d must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder to those who seek after him.

(7)By faith Noah, being warned by G.o.d concerning things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

(8)By faith Abraham when called obeyed, to go forth into a place which he should afterward receive for an inheritance, and went forth, not knowing whither he went. (9)By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise; (10)for he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is G.o.d.

(11)By faith Sarah herself also received power to conceive seed, even when she was past age, because she accounted him faithful who had promised. (12)Wherefore also there sprang from one, and him become as dead, even as the stars of heaven in mult.i.tude, and as the sand which is by the sea sh.o.r.e innumerable.

(13)These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar, and greeted them, and professed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth. (14)For they that say such things declare plainly, that they are seeking a country. (15)And if indeed, they had in mind that from which they came out, they would have had opportunity to return. (16)But now[11:16] they desire a better, that is, a heavenly; wherefore G.o.d is not ashamed to be called their G.o.d; for he prepared for them a city.

(17)By faith Abraham, when tried, has offered up Isaac; and he who had accepted the promises offered up his only begotten, (18)of whom it was said: In Isaac shall thy seed be called; (19)accounting that G.o.d is able even to raise from the dead; whence he also received him back in a figure.

(20)By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning things to come.

(21)By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and he wors.h.i.+ped, [leaning] on the top of his staff.

(22)By faith Joseph, when dying, made mention of the departure of the sons of Israel, and gave commandment concerning his bones.

(23)By faith Moses, when born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was fair; and they feared not the king's commandment.

(24)By faith Moses, when grown up, refused to be called son of a daughter of Pharaoh; (25)choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of G.o.d, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; (26)esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked for the reward.

(27)By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

(28)Through faith he has kept the pa.s.sover, and the affusion of the blood, that he who destroyed the first-born might not touch them.

(29)By faith they pa.s.sed through the Red sea as by dry land; which the Egyptians attempting were swallowed up.

(30)By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after they had been encompa.s.sed during seven days.

(31)By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who believed not[11:31], after having received the spies with peace.

(32)And why say I more? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, of Barak and Samson and Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets; (33)who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34)quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

(35)Women received their dead, by resurrection to life; and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

(36)And others had trial of mockings, and scourgings, and, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment. (37)They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword; they went about in sheep-skins and goats' skins, being dest.i.tute, afflicted, tormented; (38)of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the clefts of the earth.

(39)And all these, having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise; (40)G.o.d having provided something better concerning us, that they should not without us be made perfect.

XII.