< BACK | NEXT >

Hebrews Chapter 10

Because of the insufficiency of the sacrifices of the law, Christ our high priest shed his own blood for us, offering up once for all the sacrifice of our redemption. He exhorts them to perseverance.

English (Douay-Rheims)

1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things, by the selfsame sacrifices which they offer continually every year, can never make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then they would have ceased to be offered: because the worshippers once cleansed should have no conscience of sin any longer. They would have ceased... If they had been of themselves perfect to all the intents of redemption and remission, as Christ's death is there would have been no occasion of so often repeating them: as there is no occasion for Christ's dying any more for our sins. 3 But in them there is made a commemoration of sins every year: 4 For it is impossible that with the blood of oxen and goats sin should be taken away. 5 Wherefore, when he cometh into the world he saith: Sacrifice and oblation thou wouldest not: but a body thou hast fitted to me. 6 Holocausts for sin did not please thee. 7 Then said I: Behold I come: in the head of the book it is written of me: that I should do thy will, O God. 8 In saying before, Sacrifices, and oblations, and holocausts for sin thou wouldest not, neither are they pleasing to thee, which are offered according to the law. 9 Then said I: Behold, I come to do thy will, O God: He taketh away the first, that he may establish that which followeth. 10 In the which will, we are sanctified by the oblation of the body of Jesus Christ once. 11 And every priest indeed standeth daily ministering and often offering the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. 12 But this man, offering one sacrifice for sins, for ever sitteth on the right hand of God, 13 From henceforth expecting until his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one oblation he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 And the Holy Ghost also doth testify this to us. For after that he said: 16 And this is the testament which I will make unto them after those days, saith the Lord. I will give my laws in their hearts and on their minds will I write them: 17 And their sins and iniquities I will remember no more. 18 Now, where there is a remission of these, there is no more an oblation for sin. There is no more an oblation for sin... Where there is a full remission of sins, as in baptism, there is no more occasion for a sin offering to be made for such sins already remitted; and as for sins committed afterwards, they can only be remitted in virtue of the one oblation of Christ's death.

19 Having therefore, brethren, a confidence in the entering into the holies by the blood of Christ: 20 A new and living way which he hath dedicated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh: 21 And a high priest over the house of God: 22 Let us draw near with a true heart, in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with clean water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering (for he is faithful that hath promised): 24 And let us consider one another, to provoke unto charity and to good works: 25 Not forsaking our assembly, as some are accustomed: but comforting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after having the knowledge of the truth, there is now left no sacrifice for sins: If we sin wilfully... He speaks of the sin of wilful apostasy from the known truth; after which, as we can not be baptized again, we can not expect to have that abundant remission of sins, which Christ purchased by his death, applied to our souls in that ample manner as it is in baptism: but we have rather all manner of reason to look for a dreadful judgment; the more because apostates from the known truth, seldom or never have the grace to return to it. 27 But a certain dreadful expectation of judgment, and the rage of a fire which shall consume the adversaries. 28 A man making void the law of Moses dieth without any mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 How much more, do you think he deserveth worse punishments, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath esteemed the blood of the testament unclean, by which he was sanctified, and hath offered an affront to the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said: Vengeance belongeth to me, and I will repay. And again: The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But call to mind the former days, wherein, being illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions. 33 And on the one hand indeed, by reproaches and tribulations, were made a gazingstock; and on the other, became companions of them that were used in such sort. 34 For you both had compassion on them that were in bands and took with joy the being stripped of your own goods, knowing that you have a better and a lasting substance. 35 Do not therefore lose your confidence which hath a great reward. 36 For patience is necessary for you: that, doing the will of God, you may receive the promise. 37 For yet a little and a very little while, and he that is to come will come and will not delay. 38 But my just man liveth by faith: but if he withdraw himself, he shall not please my soul. 39 But we are not the children of withdrawing unto perdition, but of faith to the saving of the soul.

Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899

Latin (Clementine Vulgate)

1 Umbram enim habens lex futurorum bonorum, non ipsam imaginem rerum: per singulos annos, eisdem ipsis hostiis quas offerunt indesinenter, numquam potest accedentes perfectos facere: 2 alioquin cessassent offerri: ideo quod nullam haberent ultra conscientiam peccati, cultores semel mundati: 3 sed in ipsis commemoratio peccatorum per singulos annos fit. 4 Impossibile enim est sanguine taurorum et hircorum auferri peccata. 5 Ideo ingrediens mundum dicit: Hostiam et oblationem noluisti: corpus autem aptasti mihi: 6 holocautomata pro peccato non tibi placuerunt. 7 Tunc dixi: Ecce venio: in capite libri scriptum est de me: Ut faciam, Deus, voluntatem tuam. 8 Superius dicens: Quia hostias, et oblationes, et holocautomata pro peccato noluisti, nec placita sunt tibi, quæ secundum legem offeruntur, 9 tunc dixi: Ecce venio, ut faciam, Deus, voluntatem tuam: aufert primum, ut sequens statuat. 10 In qua voluntate sanctificati sumus per oblationem corporis Jesu Christi semel. 11 Et omnis quidem sacerdos præsto est quotidie ministrans, et easdem sæpe offerens hostias, quæ numquam possunt auferre peccata: 12 hic autem unam pro peccatis offerens hostiam, in sempiternum sedet in dextera Dei, 13 de cetero exspectans donec ponantur inimici ejus scabellum pedum ejus. 14 Una enim oblatione, consummavit in sempiternum sanctificatos. 15 Contestatur autem nos et Spiritus Sanctus. Postquam enim dixit: 16 Hoc autem testamentum, quod testabor ad illos post dies illos, dicit Dominus, dando leges meas in cordibus eorum, et in mentibus eorum superscribam eas: 17 et peccatorum, et iniquitatum eorum jam non recordabor amplius. 18 Ubi autem horum remissio: jam non est oblatio pro peccato.

19 Habentes itaque, fratres, fiduciam in introitu sanctorum in sanguine Christi, 20 quam initiavit nobis viam novam, et viventem per velamen, id est, carnem suam, 21 et sacerdotem magnum super domum Dei: 22 accedamus cum vero corde in plenitudine fidei, aspersi corda a conscientia mala, et abluti corpus aqua munda, 23 teneamus spei nostræ confessionem indeclinabilem (fidelis enim est qui repromisit), 24 et consideremus invicem in provocationem caritatis, et bonorum operum: 25 non deserentes collectionem nostram, sicut consuetudinis est quibusdam, sed consolantes, et tanto magis quanto videritis appropinquantem diem. 26 Voluntarie enim peccantibus nobis post acceptam notitiam veritatis, jam non relinquitur pro peccatis hostia, 27 terribilis autem quædam exspectatio judicii, et ignis æmulatio, quæ consumptura est adversarios. 28 Irritam quis faciens legem Moysi, sine ulla miseratione duobus vel tribus testibus moritur: 29 quanto magis putatis deteriora mereri supplicia qui Filium Dei conculcaverit, et sanguinem testamenti pollutum duxerit, in quo sanctificatus est, et spiritui gratiæ contumeliam fecerit? 30 Scimus enim qui dixit: Mihi vindicta, et ego retribuam. Et iterum: Quia judicabit Dominus populum suum. 31 Horrendum est incidere in manus Dei viventis. 32 Rememoramini autem pristinos dies, in quibus illuminati, magnum certamen sustinuistis passionum: 33 et in altero quidem opprobriis et tribulationibus spectaculum facti: in altero autem socii taliter conversantium effecti. 34 Nam et vinctis compassi estis, et rapinam bonorum vestrorum cum gaudio suscepistis, cognoscentes vos habere meliorem et manentem substantiam. 35 Nolite itaque amittere confidentiam vestram, quæ magnam habet remunerationem. 36 Patientia enim vobis necessaria est: ut voluntatem Dei facientes, reportetis promissionem. 37 Adhuc enim modicum aliquantulum, qui venturus est, veniet, et non tardabit. 38 Justus autem meus ex fide vivit: quod si subtraxerit se, non placebit animæ meæ. 39 Nos autem non sumus subtractionis filii in perditionem, sed fidei in acquisitionem animæ.

Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition