²⁷ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write^(A) down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant^(B) with you and with Israel.” ²⁸ Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights^(C) without eating bread or drinking water.^(D) And he wrote on the tablets^(E) the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.^(F)

The Radiant Face of Moses

²⁹ When Moses came down from Mount Sinai^(G) with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands,^(H) he was not aware that his face was radiant^(I) because he had spoken with the Lord. ³⁰ When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. ³¹ But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community^(J) came back to him, and he spoke to them. ³² Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands^(K) the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.

³³ When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil^(L) over his face. ³⁴ But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, ³⁵ they saw that his face was radiant.^(M) Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.

Faith in Action

11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for^(A) and assurance about what we do not see.^{(B) 2} This is what the ancients were commended for.^(C)

⁸ By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,^(A) obeyed and went,^(B) even though he did not know where he was going. ⁹ By faith he made his home in the promised land^(C) like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents,^(D) as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.^{(E) 10} For he was looking forward to the city^(F) with foundations,^(G) whose architect and builder is God.^(H)

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

⁷ Now if the ministry that brought death,^(A) which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory,^(B) transitory though it was, ⁸ will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ⁹ If the ministry that brought condemnation^(C) was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!^{(D) 10} For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. ¹¹ And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

¹² Therefore, since we have such a hope,^(E) we are very bold.^(F)

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit,^(A) and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.^{(B) 18} And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[a](C) the Lord’s glory,^(D) are being transformed into his image^(E) with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.