Hebrews 8
The author declares that we have a high priest who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man. He argues that Christ is the mediator of a better covenant established on better promises, quoting Jeremiah's prophecy of the new covenant in which God writes His laws on the heart.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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; | Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such a high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, |
| 2 | A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. | a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. |
| 3 | For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. | For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices; therefore it is of necessity that this man have something also to offer. |
| 4 | For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: | For if He were on earth, He should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests who offer gifts according to the law, |
| 5 | Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. | who serve to the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when He was about to make the tabernacle; for "See," says He, "that you make all things according to the pattern shown to you in the mount." |
| 6 | But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. | But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. |
| 7 | For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. | For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place should have been sought for the second. |
| 8 | For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: | For finding fault with them, He says, "The days come, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, |
| 9 | Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. | not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in My covenant, and I regarded them not, says the Lord. |
| 10 | For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: | For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people. |
| 11 | And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. | And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord'; for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest. |
| 12 | For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. | For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." |
| 13 | In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. | In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first old. Now that which decays and grows old is ready to vanish away. |