The Burning Bush

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the (A)mountain of God. (B)And (C)the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, (D)God called to him (E)out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not come near; (F)take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And he said, (G)“I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for (H)he was afraid to look at God.

Then the Lord said, (I)“I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their (J)taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and (K)I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and (L)to bring them up out of that land to a (M)good and broad land, a land (N)flowing with milk and honey, to the place of (O)the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, (P)the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the (Q)oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 (R)Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, (S)“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, (T)“But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, (U)you shall serve God on this mountain.”

13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.”[a] And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: (V)I am has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord,[b] the (W)God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is (X)my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. 16 Go and (Y)gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, (Z)“I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I promise that (AA)I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land (AB)flowing with milk and honey.”’ 18 And (AC)they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel (AD)shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has (AE)met with us; and now, please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt (AF)will not let you go unless compelled (AG)by a mighty hand.[c] 20 So (AH)I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with (AI)all the wonders that I will do in it; (AJ)after that he will let you go. 21 And (AK)I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, 22 but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for (AL)silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So (AM)you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 3:14 Or I am what I am, or I will be what I will be
  2. Exodus 3:15 The word Lord, when spelled with capital letters, stands for the divine name, YHWH, which is here connected with the verb hayah, “to be” in verse 14
  3. Exodus 3:19 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew go, not by a mighty hand

Moses and the Burning Bush

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro(A) his father-in-law, the priest of Midian,(B) and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb,(C) the mountain(D) of God. There the angel of the Lord(E) appeared to him in flames of fire(F) from within a bush.(G) Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called(H) to him from within the bush,(I) “Moses! Moses!”

And Moses said, “Here I am.”(J)

“Do not come any closer,”(K) God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”(L) Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”(M) At this, Moses hid(N) his face, because he was afraid to look at God.(O)

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen(P) the misery(Q) of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned(R) about their suffering.(S) So I have come down(T) to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land,(U) a land flowing with milk and honey(V)—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites(W) and Jebusites.(X) And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing(Y) them. 10 So now, go. I am sending(Z) you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”(AA)

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I(AB) that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

12 And God said, “I will be with you.(AC) And this will be the sign(AD) to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you[b] will worship God on this mountain.(AE)

13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’(AF) Then what shall I tell them?”

14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.[c] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am(AG) has sent me to you.’”

15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord,[d] the God of your fathers(AH)—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob(AI)—has sent me to you.’

“This is my name(AJ) forever,
    the name you shall call me
    from generation to generation.(AK)

16 “Go, assemble the elders(AL) of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob(AM)—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen(AN) what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt(AO) into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’(AP)

18 “The elders of Israel will listen(AQ) to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews,(AR) has met(AS) with us. Let us take a three-day journey(AT) into the wilderness to offer sacrifices(AU) to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand(AV) compels him. 20 So I will stretch out my hand(AW) and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders(AX) that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.(AY)

21 “And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed(AZ) toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed.(BA) 22 Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver(BB) and gold(BC) and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder(BD) the Egyptians.”(BE)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 3:6 Masoretic Text; Samaritan Pentateuch (see Acts 7:32) fathers
  2. Exodus 3:12 The Hebrew is plural.
  3. Exodus 3:14 Or I will be what I will be
  4. Exodus 3:15 The Hebrew for Lord sounds like and may be related to the Hebrew for I am in verse 14.

19 On the third day go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand, and remain beside the stone heap.[a] 20 And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark. 21 And behold, I will send the boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,’ then you are to come, for, (A)as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger. 22 But if I say to the youth, (B)‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go, for the Lord has sent you away. 23 (C)And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, (D)the Lord is between you and me forever.”

24 So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. 25 The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite,[b] and Abner sat by Saul's side, (E)but David's place was empty.

26 Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him. (F)He is not clean; surely he is not clean.” 27 But on (G)the second day, the day after the new moon, (H)David's place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?” 28 Jonathan answered Saul, (I)“David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem. 29 He said, ‘Let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king's table.”

30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” 32 Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, (J)“Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” 33 (K)But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew (L)that his father was determined to put David to death. 34 And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him.

35 In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him a little boy. 36 And he said to his boy, “Run and find the arrows that I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37 And when the boy came to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, (M)“Is not the arrow beyond you?” 38 And Jonathan called after the boy, “Hurry! Be quick! Do not stay!” So Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master. 39 But the boy knew nothing. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 40 And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go and carry them to the city.” 41 And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap[c] and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most. 42 Then Jonathan said to David, (N)“Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, (O)‘The Lord shall be between me and you, (P)and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.[d]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 20:19 Septuagint; Hebrew the stone Ezel
  2. 1 Samuel 20:25 Compare Septuagint; Hebrew stood up
  3. 1 Samuel 20:41 Septuagint; Hebrew from beside the south
  4. 1 Samuel 20:42 This sentence is 21:1 in Hebrew

19 The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid(A) when this trouble began, and wait by the stone Ezel. 20 I will shoot three arrows(B) to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target. 21 Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here,’ then come, because, as surely as the Lord lives, you are safe; there is no danger. 22 But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond(C) you,’ then you must go, because the Lord has sent you away. 23 And about the matter you and I discussed—remember, the Lord is witness(D) between you and me forever.”

24 So David hid in the field, and when the New Moon feast(E) came, the king sat down to eat. 25 He sat in his customary place by the wall, opposite Jonathan,[a] and Abner sat next to Saul, but David’s place was empty.(F) 26 Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, “Something must have happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.(G) 27 But the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was empty again. Then Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”

28 Jonathan answered, “David earnestly asked me for permission(H) to go to Bethlehem. 29 He said, ‘Let me go, because our family is observing a sacrifice(I) in the town and my brother has ordered me to be there. If I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away to see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”

30 Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? 31 As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom(J) will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!”

32 “Why(K) should he be put to death? What(L) has he done?” Jonathan asked his father. 33 But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended(M) to kill David.

34 Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the feast he did not eat, because he was grieved at his father’s shameful treatment of David.

35 In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for his meeting with David. He had a small boy with him, 36 and he said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37 When the boy came to the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called out after him, “Isn’t the arrow beyond(N) you?” 38 Then he shouted, “Hurry! Go quickly! Don’t stop!” The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. 39 (The boy knew nothing about all this; only Jonathan and David knew.) 40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said, “Go, carry them back to town.”

41 After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground.(O) Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most.

42 Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace,(P) for we have sworn friendship(Q) with each other in the name of the Lord,(R) saying, ‘The Lord is witness(S) between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.(T)’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.[b]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 20:25 Septuagint; Hebrew wall. Jonathan arose
  2. 1 Samuel 20:42 In Hebrew texts this sentence (20:42b) is numbered 21:1.

“At that time, declares the Lord, the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of its officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be brought out of their tombs. And they shall be spread (A)before the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven, which they have loved and served, which they have gone after, and which they have sought and worshiped. (B)And they shall not be gathered or buried. (C)They shall be as dung on the surface of the ground. (D)Death shall be preferred to life by all the remnant that remains of this evil family (E)in all the places where I have driven them, declares the Lord of hosts.

Sin and Treachery

“You shall say to them, Thus says the Lord:
(F)When men fall, do they not rise again?
    If one turns away, does he not return?
Why then has this people (G)turned away
    in perpetual (H)backsliding?
(I)They hold fast to deceit;
    they refuse to return.
(J)I have paid attention and listened,
    but they have not spoken rightly;
no man relents of his evil,
    saying, ‘What have I done?’
Everyone turns to his own course,
    (K)like a horse plunging headlong into battle.
Even the stork in the heavens
    knows her times,
and (L)the turtledove, (M)swallow, and crane[a]
    keep the time of their coming,
(N)but my people know not
    the rules[b] of the Lord.

(O)“How can you say, ‘We are wise,
    and the law of the Lord is with us’?
But behold, the lying pen of the scribes
    has made it into a lie.
(P)The wise men shall be put to shame;
    they shall be dismayed (Q)and taken;
behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord,
    so what wisdom is in them?
10 (R)Therefore I will give their wives to others
    and their fields to conquerors,
because from the least to the greatest
    everyone (S)is greedy for unjust gain;
from prophet to priest,
    everyone deals falsely.
11 They have healed (T)the wound of my people lightly,
    saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
    when there is no peace.
12 Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
    No, (U)they were not at all ashamed;
    they did not know how to blush.
(V)Therefore they shall fall among the fallen;
    when I punish them, they shall be overthrown,
says the Lord.
13 When I would gather them, declares the Lord,
    there are (W)no grapes on the vine,
    (X)nor figs on the fig tree;
(Y)even the leaves are withered,
    and what I gave them has passed away from them.”[c]

14 Why do we sit still?
(Z)Gather together; (AA)let us go into the fortified cities
    and perish there,
for the Lord our God has doomed us to perish
    and has (AB)given us (AC)poisoned water to drink,
    because we have sinned against the Lord.
15 (AD)We looked for peace, but no good came;
    for a time of healing, but behold, terror.

16 (AE)“The snorting of their horses is heard (AF)from Dan;
    at the sound of the neighing (AG)of their stallions
    (AH)the whole land quakes.
They come (AI)and devour the land and all that fills it,
    the city and those who dwell in it.
17 For behold, I am sending among you (AJ)serpents,
    adders (AK)that cannot be charmed,
    (AL)and they shall bite you,”
declares the Lord.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 8:7 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
  2. Jeremiah 8:7 Or just decrees
  3. Jeremiah 8:13 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

“‘At that time, declares the Lord, the bones of the kings and officials of Judah, the bones of the priests and prophets, and the bones(A) of the people of Jerusalem will be removed(B) from their graves. They will be exposed to the sun and the moon and all the stars of the heavens, which they have loved and served(C) and which they have followed and consulted and worshiped.(D) They will not be gathered up or buried,(E) but will be like dung lying on the ground.(F) Wherever I banish them,(G) all the survivors of this evil nation will prefer death to life,(H) declares the Lord Almighty.’

Sin and Punishment

“Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says:

“‘When people fall down, do they not get up?(I)
    When someone turns away,(J) do they not return?
Why then have these people turned away?
    Why does Jerusalem always turn away?
They cling to deceit;(K)
    they refuse to return.(L)
I have listened(M) attentively,
    but they do not say what is right.
None of them repent(N) of their wickedness,
    saying, “What have I done?”
Each pursues their own course(O)
    like a horse charging into battle.
Even the stork in the sky
    knows her appointed seasons,
and the dove, the swift and the thrush
    observe the time of their migration.
But my people do not know(P)
    the requirements of the Lord.

“‘How can you say, “We are wise,
    for we have the law(Q) of the Lord,”
when actually the lying pen of the scribes
    has handled it falsely?
The wise(R) will be put to shame;
    they will be dismayed(S) and trapped.(T)
Since they have rejected the word(U) of the Lord,
    what kind of wisdom(V) do they have?
10 Therefore I will give their wives to other men
    and their fields to new owners.(W)
From the least to the greatest,
    all are greedy for gain;(X)
prophets(Y) and priests alike,
    all practice deceit.(Z)
11 They dress the wound of my people
    as though it were not serious.
“Peace, peace,” they say,
    when there is no peace.(AA)
12 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?
    No, they have no shame(AB) at all;
    they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen;
    they will be brought down when they are punished,(AC)
says the Lord.(AD)

13 “‘I will take away their harvest,
declares the Lord.
    There will be no grapes on the vine.(AE)
There will be no figs(AF) on the tree,
    and their leaves will wither.(AG)
What I have given them
    will be taken(AH) from them.[a]’”

14 Why are we sitting here?
    Gather together!
Let us flee to the fortified cities(AI)
    and perish there!
For the Lord our God has doomed us to perish
    and given us poisoned water(AJ) to drink,
    because we have sinned(AK) against him.
15 We hoped for peace(AL)
    but no good has come,
for a time of healing
    but there is only terror.(AM)
16 The snorting of the enemy’s horses(AN)
    is heard from Dan;(AO)
at the neighing of their stallions
    the whole land trembles.(AP)
They have come to devour(AQ)
    the land and everything in it,
    the city and all who live there.

17 “See, I will send venomous snakes(AR) among you,
    vipers that cannot be charmed,(AS)
    and they will bite you,”
declares the Lord.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 8:13 The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.

Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

20 May the Lord (A)answer you in the day of trouble!
    May (B)the name of the God of Jacob (C)protect you!
May he send you help from (D)the sanctuary
    and give you support from (E)Zion!
May he (F)remember all your offerings
    and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

May he (G)grant you your heart's desire
    and fulfill all your plans!
May we shout for joy over (H)your salvation,
    and in the name of our God set up our (I)banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
    he will answer him from his holy heaven
    with (J)the saving might of his right hand.
Some trust in (K)chariots and some in (L)horses,
    (M)but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They collapse and fall,
    but we rise and stand upright.

O Lord, save (N)the king!
    May he answer us when we call.

Read full chapter

Psalm 20[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;(A)
    may the name of the God of Jacob(B) protect you.(C)
May he send you help(D) from the sanctuary(E)
    and grant you support(F) from Zion.(G)
May he remember(H) all your sacrifices
    and accept your burnt offerings.[b](I)
May he give you the desire of your heart(J)
    and make all your plans succeed.(K)
May we shout for joy(L) over your victory
    and lift up our banners(M) in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.(N)

Now this I know:
    The Lord gives victory to his anointed.(O)
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
    with the victorious power of his right hand.(P)
Some trust in chariots(Q) and some in horses,(R)
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.(S)
They are brought to their knees and fall,(T)
    but we rise up(U) and stand firm.(V)
Lord, give victory to the king!
    Answer us(W) when we call!

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 20:1 In Hebrew texts 20:1-9 is numbered 20:2-10.
  2. Psalm 20:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

The Crucifixion

32 (A)(B)As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to (C)carry his cross. 33 (D)And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 (E)they offered him wine to drink, mixed with (F)gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, (G)they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and (H)kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, (I)the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two (J)robbers were crucified with him, (K)one on the right and one on the left. 39 And (L)those who passed by (M)derided him, (N)wagging their heads 40 and saying, (O)“You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! (P)If you are (Q)the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 (R)“He saved others; (S)he cannot save himself. (T)He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 (U)He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 (V)And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

Read full chapter

The Crucifixion of Jesus(A)

32 As they were going out,(B) they met a man from Cyrene,(C) named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.(D) 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).(E) 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall;(F) but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.(G) 36 And sitting down, they kept watch(H) over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

38 Two rebels were crucified with him,(I) one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads(J) 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,(K) save yourself!(L) Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”(M) 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel!(N) Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe(O) in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him(P) now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

Read full chapter

A Living Stone and a Holy People

(A)So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. (B)Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual (C)milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have (D)tasted that the Lord is good.

As you come to him, a living stone (E)rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, (F)you yourselves like living stones are being built up as (G)a spiritual house, to be (H)a holy priesthood, (I)to offer spiritual sacrifices (J)acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:

(K)“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
    a cornerstone chosen and precious,
(L)and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

So the honor is for you who (M)believe, but for those who (N)do not believe,

(O)“The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”[a]

and

(P)“A stone of stumbling,
    and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, (Q)as they were destined to do.

But you are (R)a chosen race, (S)a royal (T)priesthood, (U)a holy nation, (V)a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you (W)out of darkness into (X)his marvelous light. 10 (Y)Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:7 Greek the head of the corner

Therefore, rid yourselves(A) of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander(B) of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,(C) so that by it you may grow up(D) in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.(E)

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

As you come to him, the living Stone(F)—rejected by humans but chosen by God(G) and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built(H) into a spiritual house[a](I) to be a holy priesthood,(J) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.(K) For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,(L)
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”[b](M)

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,(N)

“The stone the builders rejected(O)
    has become the cornerstone,”[c](P)

and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”[d](Q)

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.(R)

But you are a chosen people,(S) a royal priesthood,(T) a holy nation,(U) God’s special possession,(V) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(W) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;(X) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:5 Or into a temple of the Spirit
  2. 1 Peter 2:6 Isaiah 28:16
  3. 1 Peter 2:7 Psalm 118:22
  4. 1 Peter 2:8 Isaiah 8:14