1 Since the law has only a shadow {skia: faint preview} of the good things that are coming and not their actual likeness, it is never able, by the same sacrifices offered each year without fail, to bring to full completion {teleiosai: full completion} those who draw near.
2 Otherwise, would the offerings not have ceased, since the worshipping {latreuo: rendering sacred service} people, once cleansed, would have no conscience {syneidesis: moral awareness} of sins?
3 But in them {autais: the sacrifices} there is a yearly remembrance {anamnesis: deliberate recalling} of sins.
4 For the blood {haima: life poured out} of bulls and goats is unable to take away sins {hamartias: moral failures}.
5 Therefore, when He {Christos, Incarnate Son} enters into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and offering You {Theos, Desiring True Obedience} did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me.”
6 In burnt offerings and offerings for sin, You {Theos, Righteous Judge} have not taken pleasure {eudokesas: shown approval}.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come—in the scroll {kephalidi: ancient book roll} of the book it is written about Me—to do Your will, O God {Theos, Recipient Of Obedience}.”
8 When He {Christos, Obedient Son} said earlier, “Sacrifices {thysias: ritual offerings} and offerings and burnt offerings and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor were You pleased with them,” which are offered according to the law.
9 Then He has said, “Behold, I {Christos, Obedient Son} have come to do Your will.” He removes the first so that He might establish the second {deuteron: new order}.
10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ {Iesous Christos, Perfect Sacrifice} once for all {ephapax: final act}.
11 And every priest {hiereus: sacred servant} stands day by day, serving and bringing the same sacrifices again and again, which are never able to take away sins {hamartias: moral offenses}.
12 But this one, after offering a single sacrifice {thusia: sacred offering} for sins that holds for all time, sat down at the right hand of God {Theos, Exalted Judge}.
13 From then on, He {Christos, Patient Victor} waits until His enemies are placed as a footstool {hypopodion: symbol of defeat} for His feet.
14 For by one offering He {Iesous, Perfect Sacrifice} has brought to completion for all time those who are being sanctified {hagiazo: set apart as holy}.
15 But the Holy Spirit {Pneuma Hagion, Covenant Witness} also bears witness to us, for after He has said {eirēkenai: spoken with lasting effect}—
16 “This is the covenant {diatheke: binding arrangement} that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord {Kyrios, Divine Covenant Maker}: I will put My laws upon their hearts, and upon their minds I will write them.”
17 And their sins and their lawless deeds {anomion: rebellious violations} I {Theos, Forgiving God} will never remember again.
18 However, where forgiveness {aphesis: release from obligation} has been granted for these, there remains no offering for sin {hamartias: moral failure}.
19 Therefore, brothers, having boldness {parresia: confident access} for the entrance to the holy places by the blood of Jesus {Iesous, Faithful High Priest}.
20 Which He {Iesous, Sacrificial Mediator} inaugurated for us, a new and living way, through the curtain, that is, His flesh {sarkos: true humanity}.
21 And since we have a great priest {hierea: High Mediator} presiding over the house of God {Theos, Owner of House},
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in the full assurance of faith, our hearts having been sprinkled from an evil conscience {syneidesis: moral awareness}, and our body having been washed with pure water {hydor: ceremonial cleansing}.
23 Let us hold fast the confession {homologia: open declaration} of our hope without wavering, for He {Theos, Faithful Promiser} who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider {katanoomen: Attentive Reflection} one another, so as to spur toward love {agape: Self-giving Devotion} and good works.
25 Not abandoning your own assembly {episynagoge: shared gathering}, as is customary {ethos: repeated practice} among some, but exhorting one another—and even more as you see the Day drawing near.
26 If, after receiving the knowledge {epignosis: full recognition} of the truth, we sin willfully {hekousios: conscious intention}, no sacrifice remains for sins.
27 But a certain fearful expectation {ekdoche: anxious awaiting} of judgment and a fury of fire that is about to consume the adversaries {hypenantioi: persistent opponents}.
28 Anyone who has rejected the law of Moses dies without mercy {oiktirmon: compassion withheld} on the basis of two or three witnesses {martysin: legal testifiers}.
29 By how much worse punishment do you think the one will be considered worthy who has trampled underfoot the Son of God {huios tou theou, Rejected Saving Son}, and has regarded as common the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace {pneuma tes charitos, Grieved Grace-Giver}?
30 For we know the One who said, “Vengeance {ekdikesis: just retribution} is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord {Kyrios, Righteous Judge} will judge His people.”
31 It is fearful {phoberon: awe-inspiring terror} to fall into the hands of the living God {Theos, Righteous Judge}.
32 But remember the former days in which, after you were enlightened {photisthentes: spiritual insight}, you endured a great struggle {athlesis: intense conflict} of sufferings.
33 On the one hand you were publicly exposed to reproaches {oneidismos: shaming insults} and afflictions {thlipsis: crushing pressures}; on the other hand you became companions of those who were being treated in this way.
34 For you sympathized with the prisoners {desmiois: those in chains} and accepted the plundering of your belongings with joy, knowing that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession {hyparxis: valuable possession}.
35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence {parresia: bold assurance}, which carries a great reward {misthapodosia: due recompense}.
36 For you have need of endurance {hypomone: steadfast perseverance}, so that after doing the will of God {Theos, Faithful Rewarder}, you might receive the promise.
37 For yet a very little while, the Coming One {ho erchomenos: Promised Deliverer} will come, and He will not delay {chronisei: wait beyond time}.
38 But My {Theos, Divine Judge} righteous one will live by faith {pisteos: trusting reliance}, and if he draws back, My soul is not well-pleased with him.
39 But we are not of shrinking back {hypostole: fearful withdrawal} into destruction, but of faith to the preserving of the soul {psyche: immaterial life}.