My Soul Waits for the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

1 For since the law has but a ^lshadow of the ^mgood things to come instead of the true form of these realities, ⁿit can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been ^ocleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 Consequently, when Christ¹ came ^pinto the world, he said,

8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and ^sburnt offerings and ^tsin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been ^usanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ^vonce for all.

11 And every priest stands ^wdaily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ² had ^xoffered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, ^yhe sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has ^zperfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

15 And ^athe Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

17 then he adds,

18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

The Full Assurance of Faith

19 Therefore, brothers,³ since we have ^dconfidence to ^eenter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living ^fway that he opened for us through the ^gcurtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the ^hhouse of God, 22 let us ⁱdraw near with a true heart in ^jfull assurance of faith, with our hearts ^ksprinkled clean from an evil ^lconscience and our bodies ^mwashed with pure water. 23 Let us ⁿhold fast the ^oconfession of our ^phope without wavering, for he who promised is ^qfaithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but ^rencouraging one another, and all the more as you see the ^sDay drawing near.

26 For ^tif we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the ^uknowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a ^vfury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy ^won the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 ^xHow much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has ^ytrampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the ^zblood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, ^a“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, ^b“The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a ^cfearful thing to fall into the hands of the ^dliving God.

32 But recall the former days when, after you were ^eenlightened, you ^fendured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being ^gpublicly exposed to ^hreproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those ⁱin prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your ^jconfidence, which has a great ^kreward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For,

39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.