The New Covenant

(Jeremiah 31:26–40)

6 Now, however, [Jesus] has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better [and] is founded on better promises. 7 For if that first [ covenant ] had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a second. 8 [But] [God] found fault with [the people] [and] said:

“Behold, [the] days are coming, declares [the] Lord,

[when] I will make a new covenant

with the house of Israel

and with the house of Judah.

9 [It will] not be like the covenant

I made with their fathers

when I took them by the hand

to lead them out of [the] land of Egypt,

because they did not abide by My covenant,

and I disregarded them, declares [the] Lord.

10 For this [is] the covenant I will make

with the house of Israel

after those days,

declares [the] Lord.

I will put My laws in their minds

and inscribe them on their hearts.

And I will be their God,

and they will be My people.

11 No longer {will} each one teach his neighbor[fn] [or] his brother,

saying, ‘Know the Lord,’

because they will all know Me,

from [the] least of them to [the] greatest.

12 For I will forgive their iniquities

and will remember their sins and lawless acts[fn] no more.”[fn]

13 By speaking of a new [covenant],[fn] He has made the first one {obsolete}; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.