31 Thus Israel saw the great [a]work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord, and (A)believed the Lord and His servant Moses.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 14:31 Lit. hand with which the Lord worked

31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand(A) of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared(B) the Lord and put their trust(C) in him and in Moses his servant.

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10 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and (A)consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. 11 And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. (B)Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13 Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.”

14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; (C)do not come near your wives.”

16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were (D)thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp (E)trembled. 17 And (F)Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now (G)Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon (H)it in fire. (I)Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and [a]the (J)whole mountain quaked greatly.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 19:18 LXX all the people

10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate(A) them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes(B) 11 and be ready by the third day,(C) because on that day the Lord will come down(D) on Mount Sinai(E) in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits(F) for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned(G) or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn(H) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”(I)

14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.(J) 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain(K) from sexual relations.”

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder(L) and lightning, with a thick cloud(M) over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.(N) Everyone in the camp trembled.(O) 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.(P) 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,(Q) because the Lord descended on it in fire.(R) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace,(S) and the whole mountain[a] trembled(T) violently.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 19:18 Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint and all the people

19 Then they said to Moses, (A)“You speak with us, and we will hear; but (B)let not God speak with us, lest we die.”

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19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak(A) to us or we will die.”(B)

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24 ‘O Lord God, You have begun to show Your servant (A)Your greatness and Your [a]mighty hand, for (B)what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works and Your mighty deeds?

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 3:24 strong

24 “Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness(A) and your strong hand. For what god(B) is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works(C) you do?(D)

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(A)to redeem those who were under the law, (B)that we might receive the adoption as sons.

And because you are sons, God has sent forth (C)the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, [a]“Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, (D)and if a son, then an heir [b]of God [c]through Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:6 Lit., in Aram., Father
  2. Galatians 4:7 NU through God
  3. Galatians 4:7 NU omits through Christ

to redeem(A) those under the law, that we might receive adoption(B) to sonship.[a](C) Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son(D) into our hearts,(E) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[b] Father.”(F) So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.
  2. Galatians 4:6 Aramaic for Father

(A)And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as (B)a servant, (C)for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as (D)a Son over His own house, (E)whose house we are (F)if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope [a]firm to the end.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 3:6 NU omits firm to the end

“Moses was faithful as a servant(A) in all God’s house,”[a](B) bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son(C) over God’s house. And we are his house,(D) if indeed we hold firmly(E) to our confidence and the hope(F) in which we glory.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 3:5 Num. 12:7

Limitations of the Earthly Service

Now when these things had been thus prepared, (A)the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. But into the second part the high priest went alone (B)once a year, not without blood, which he offered for (C)himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance;

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When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly(A) into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered(B) the inner room,(C) and that only once a year,(D) and never without blood,(E) which he offered for himself(F) and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.(G)

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Christ’s Death Perfects the Sanctified

11 And every priest stands (A)ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 (B)But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down (C)at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting (D)till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being [a]sanctified.

15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

16 (E)“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, (F)“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is [b]remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Hold Fast Your Confession

19 Therefore, brethren, having (G)boldness[c] to enter (H)the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:14 set apart
  2. Hebrews 10:18 forgiveness
  3. Hebrews 10:19 confidence

11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,(A) which can never take away sins.(B) 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,(C) he sat down at the right hand of God,(D) 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.(E) 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect(F) forever those who are being made holy.(G)

15 The Holy Spirit also testifies(H) to us about this. First he says:

16 “This is the covenant I will make with them
    after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds.”[a](I)

17 Then he adds:

“Their sins and lawless acts
    I will remember no more.”[b](J)

18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

A Call to Persevere in Faith

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence(K) to enter the Most Holy Place(L) by the blood of Jesus,

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:16 Jer. 31:33
  2. Hebrews 10:17 Jer. 31:34

The Glorious Company

18 For you have not come [a]to (A)the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and [b]darkness and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it (B)begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: (C)“And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned [c]or shot with an arrow.” 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, (D)“I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the [d]general assembly and church of (E)the firstborn (F)who are registered in heaven, to God (G)the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men (H)made perfect, 24 to Jesus (I)the Mediator of the new covenant, and to (J)the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things (K)than that of Abel.

Hear the Heavenly Voice

25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For (L)if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, (M)“Yet once more I [e]shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the (N)removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we [f]may (O)serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 12:18 NU to that which
  2. Hebrews 12:18 NU gloom
  3. Hebrews 12:20 NU, M omit the rest of v. 20.
  4. Hebrews 12:23 festal gathering
  5. Hebrews 12:26 NU will shake
  6. Hebrews 12:28 M omits may

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;(A) 19 to a trumpet blast(B) or to such a voice speaking words(C) that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,(D) 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[a](E) 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”[b](F)

22 But you have come to Mount Zion,(G) to the city(H) of the living God,(I) the heavenly Jerusalem.(J) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn,(K) whose names are written in heaven.(L) You have come to God, the Judge of all,(M) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,(N) 24 to Jesus the mediator(O) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood(P) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.(Q)

25 See to it that you do not refuse(R) him who speaks.(S) If they did not escape when they refused him who warned(T) them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?(U) 26 At that time his voice shook the earth,(V) but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[c](W) 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken(X)—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,(Y) let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,(Z)

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 12:20 Exodus 19:12,13
  2. Hebrews 12:21 See Deut. 9:19.
  3. Hebrews 12:26 Haggai 2:6