but as the architect is of much greater dignity than the house he has made; so the glory which Christ received was greater than that of Moses.

And Moses certainly kept faith as a servant, in all his house, and as a witness of those things which were to be said later;

but Christ govern'd his own house in quality of son and heir, and 'tis we that are his house, provided we stedfastly persevere unto the end in the publick profession of that hope, in virtue of which we glory.

in which tempt Me did your fathers, they did prove Me, and saw My works forty years;

Take care, brothers and sisters, that there not be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to trust and rely on the Lord, a heart] that turns away from the living God.

But continually encourage one another every day, as long as it is called “Today” [and there is an opportunity], so that none of you will be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [its cleverness, delusive glamour, and sophistication].

For if we keep the substance of the faith which we had at the start, even till the end, we have a part with Christ;

which is imply'd by, "to-day since ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as at Meriba."

For which ones heard and rebelled? Was it not all who came out of Egypt under Moses' leadership?

For we have had delivered to us the joyful message, just as even, they; but the word which was heard did not profit them, they not having been blended, by faith, with the things heard.

For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

of which in a certain place relating to the seventh day, 'tis said, "and God did rest the seventh day from all his works."

Since there remains then a rest which some are still to enter into, for they to whom the promise was first made, did not enter in, because of their incredulity;

he pointed out another time in the words, which were spoken by David, a long time after their going into Canaan, in the passage just now quoted, "today since ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

which shows that the people of God have a sabbath still to come.

Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience [as those who died in the wilderness].

And there is nothing made which is not completely clear to him; there is nothing covered, but all things are open to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Seeing, then, that we have a great high priest which is entered into heaven - I mean Jesus the son of God - let us hold our profession.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Every high priest who is taken from among men is given his position to take care of the interests of men in those things which have to do with God, so that he may make offerings for sins.

which can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the high way, because that he himself also is compassed with infirmity:

For the which infirmities sake, he is bound to offer for sins, as well for his own part, as for the peoples.

Also, it is an office which no one elects to take for himself; he is called to it by God, just as Aaron was.

In the days of His earthly life, Jesus offered up both [specific] petitions and [urgent] supplications [for that which He needed] with fervent crying and tears to the One who was [always] able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission toward God [His sinlessness and His unfailing determination to do the Father’s will].

Though he was a son, yet learned he obedience through the things which he suffered;

Of whom we have much to say which it is hard to make clear, because you are slow of hearing.

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

But strong meat belongeth to them that are perfect, which through custom have their wits exercised, to judge both good and evil also.

For this reason let us go on from the first things about Christ to full growth; not building again that on which it is based, that is, the turning of the heart from dead works, and faith in God,

of teaching about washings (ritual purifications), the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. [These are all important matters in which you should have been proficient long ago.]

of which we shall treat another time, if God permit.

For it is not possible that they which were once lighted, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were become partakers of the holy ghost,

For, land, which hath drunk in, the rain, thereupon ofttimes coming, and which bringeth forth vegetation fit for them for whom it is even cultivated, partaketh of a blessing from God;

But producing thorns and thistles it is unfit and near a curse, the end of which is for burning.

But, my loved ones, though we say this, we are certain that you have better things in you, things which go with salvation;

For God is true, and will not put away from him the memory of your work and of your love for his name, in the help which you gave and still give to the saints.

but we desire that every one of you may shew the same concern, continuing to discharge the condition upon which your hopes are founded: that ye be not unactive,

that ye faint not, but follow them which through faith and patience inherit the promises.

By which God, wanting to demonstrate more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutableness of his resolve, confirmed it by an oath.

So that by two immutable events, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, having fled for refuge to seize the hope being openly displayed.

Which we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and that enters into the interior of the veil,

into which the forerunner for us is entered, even Jesus, made after the order of Melchisedec an high-priest for ever.

This Melchizedek, king of Salem - which being priest of the most high God, met Abraham, as he returned again from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him:

To whom also Abraham divided a tenth of all. Being actually translated, first, king of righteousness, and then also, king of Salem, which is king of peace,

It is true that those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to collect tithes from the people—which means, from their kinsmen—though these have descended from Abraham.

And no man denieth but that which is less, receiveth blessing of him which is greater.

And to say the truth, Levi himself also which receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.

If therefore the Levitical priesthood, concerning which the people received a law, could have given perfection, what further need was there that another priest should rise, to be named after the order of Melchisedec, and not after the order of Aaron?

For he of whom these things are spoken pertains to another tribe, from which no man has attended to the altar.

For it is evident that our Lord arose out of Judah, regarding which tribe Moses spoke nothing about the priesthood.

which is not made after the law of the carnal commandment: but after the power of the endless life.

So the law which went before is put on one side, because it was feeble and without profit.

(for the law made nothing fully perfect), and an introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God.

Then again, the appointment of this new priest was ratified by an oath, which is not so with the Levitical priests,

(For those were made priests without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by him who says of him, The Lord gave his oath, which he will not take back, that you are a priest for ever);

By so much is it a better agreement which we have through Jesus.

but he, on account of his continuing for ever, has a priesthood which passes not away,

Such a high priest it becometh us to have, which is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than heaven.

who has no day by day need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices, first of all for his own [personal] sins and then for those of the people, because He [met all the requirements and] did this once for all when He offered up Himself [as a willing sacrifice].

For the law appoints imperfect men as high priests, but the assertion about the taking of an oath, which was spoken after the time of the law, appoints a Son who is perfectly qualified to be High Priest forever.

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;

a minister of the holy things, and of the TRUE tabernacle, which the Lord erected and not man.

Now every high priest is given authority to take to God the things which are given and to make offerings; so that it is necessary for this man, like them, to have something for an offering.

which office he could not discharge here upon earth, where priests are already establish'd, who offer gifts according to the law:

Being servants of that which is a copy and an image of the things in heaven, as Moses, when he was about to make the Tent, had special orders from God: for, See, he said, that you make everything like the design which you saw in the mountain.

But now hath he obtained a ministry the more excellent, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which hath been enacted upon better promises.

nor for that reproach, which was made to our fathers, where 'tis said, "behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new alliance with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda:

Not according tot he covenant which I made with their forefathers, On the day when I took them by the hand to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt; For they did not continue in my covenant, And therefore I disregarded them," says the Lord.

"For this is the covenant which I will covenant with the house of Israel, After these days," says the Lord; "I will put my laws into their minds, And upon their hearts will I write them; And I will be their God, And they shall be my people;

In that he saith, A new covenant he hath made the first old. But that which is becoming old and waxeth aged is nigh unto vanishing away.

For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first, wherein were the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the Holy place.

And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies;

having a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid entirely in gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.

and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we cannot now speak severally.

but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offereth for himself, and for the errors of the people:

And the lesson which the Holy Spirit teaches is this--that the way into the true Holy place is not yet open so long as the outer tent still remains in existence.

which is a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect,

since they deal only with food and drink and various washings, that is, with mere material regulations which are in force only until the time of setting things straight.

But when Christ came, as the high priest of the better system under which we live, he went once for all, through that greater, more perfect tent of worship not made by human hands nor a part of our material creation, into the sanctuary,

He went once for all into the Holy Place [the Holy of Holies of heaven, into the presence of God], and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, having obtained and secured eternal redemption [that is, the salvation of all who personally believe in Him as Savior].

How much more shall the blood of Christ - which through the eternal spirit, offered himself without spot to God - purge your consciences from dead works, for to serve the living God?

For this reason He is the Mediator and Negotiator of a new covenant [that is, an entirely new agreement uniting God and man], so that those who have been called [by God] may receive [the fulfillment of] the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has taken place [as the payment] which redeems them from the sins committed under the obsolete first covenant.

For which cause also, neither that first testament was ordained without blood.

saying, This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded to you-ward.

and indeed according to the law almost every thing is purified with blood, without the effusion of which, there is no remission of sins.

For Christ did not go into a holy place which had been made by men's hands as the copy of the true one; but he went into heaven itself, and now takes his place before the face of God for us.

And he did not have to make an offering of himself again and again, as the high priest goes into the holy place every year with blood which is not his;

as then it is appointed that men should die but once, after which the judgment ensues;

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 year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh.

Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and'sacrifices for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according to the law),

By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

And every priest indeed standeth day by day ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, the which can never take away sins:

But, this priest, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, which should serve for all time, 'took his seat at the right hand of God,'

This is the agreement which I will make with them after those days, says the Lord; I will put my laws in their hearts, writing them in their minds; he said,

Having therefore, brethren, entire liberty of entrance into the holies by the blood of Jesus??20 a way, which he hath consecrated for us, newly opened, and giving life, through the vail, that is, his flesh;

by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

And seeing also that we have a high priest which is ruler over the house of God,

Let us stedfastly maintain the hope which we have avow'd, since he is faithful that has promised:

For if we go on willfully and deliberately sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice [to atone] for our sins [that is, no further offering to anticipate],

but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.