16 A covenant is like a will. In the case of a will, in order to put its provisions into effect, someone must prove that the one who made it has died. 17 A will goes into effect only when the one who makes the will has died. It is not in effect when the one who made it is still alive. 18 And so God put the first covenant into effect only [LIT] by means of animals’ blood that was shed when they were slaughtered. 19 After Moses had declared to all the Israelites everything that God commanded in the laws that God gave him, he took calves’ and goats’ blood mixed with water. He dipped into it scarlet wool that he tied around a sprig of hyssop. Then he sprinkled with some of the blood the scroll itself containing God’s laws. Then he sprinkled more of that blood on all the people, 20 saying to them, "This is the blood which brings into effect the covenant that God commanded that you obey."