The Lord Accepts Aaron's Offering

(A)On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel, and he said to Aaron, (B)“Take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and (C)a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before the Lord. And say to the people of Israel, (D)‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both a year old without blemish, for a burnt offering, and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord, and (E)a grain offering mixed with oil, for (F)today the Lord will appear to you.’” And they brought what Moses commanded in front of the tent of meeting, and all the congregation drew near and stood before the Lord. And Moses said, “This is the thing that the Lord commanded you to do, that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.” Then Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar and (G)offer your sin offering and your burnt offering and (H)make atonement for yourself and for the people, and bring the offering of the people and make atonement for them, as the Lord has commanded.”

So Aaron drew near to the altar and killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself. (I)And the sons of Aaron presented the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood and (J)put it on the horns of the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar. 10 (K)But the fat and the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver from the sin offering he burned on the altar, (L)as the Lord commanded Moses. 11 (M)The flesh and the skin he burned up with fire outside the camp.

12 Then he killed the burnt offering, and Aaron's sons handed him the blood, and he (N)threw it against the sides of the altar. 13 (O)And they handed the burnt offering to him, piece by piece, and the head, and he burned them on the altar. 14 (P)And he washed the entrails and the legs and burned them with the burnt offering on the altar.

15 (Q)Then he presented the people's offering and took the goat of the sin offering that was for the people and killed it and (R)offered it as a sin offering, (S)like the first one. 16 And he presented the burnt offering and offered it (T)according to the (U)rule. 17 And he presented the (V)grain offering, took a handful of it, and burned it on the altar, (W)besides the burnt offering of the morning.

18 Then he killed the ox and the ram, (X)the sacrifice of peace offerings for the people. And Aaron's sons handed him the blood, and he threw it against the sides of the altar. 19 But the fat pieces of the ox and of the ram, the fat tail and that which covers (Y)the entrails and the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver— 20 they put the fat pieces on the breasts, (Z)and he burned the fat pieces on the altar, 21 but the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved (AA)for a wave offering before the Lord, as Moses commanded.

22 Then Aaron (AB)lifted up his hands toward the people and (AC)blessed them, and he came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and (AD)the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. 24 And (AE)fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, (AF)they shouted and (AG)fell on their faces.

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The Priests Begin Their Ministry

On the eighth day(A) Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders(B) of Israel. He said to Aaron, “Take a bull calf for your sin offering[a] and a ram for your burnt offering, both without defect, and present them before the Lord. Then say to the Israelites: ‘Take a male goat(C) for a sin offering,(D) a calf(E) and a lamb(F)—both a year old and without defect—for a burnt offering, and an ox[b](G) and a ram for a fellowship offering(H) to sacrifice before the Lord, together with a grain offering mixed with olive oil. For today the Lord will appear to you.(I)’”

They took the things Moses commanded to the front of the tent of meeting, and the entire assembly came near and stood before the Lord. Then Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the Lord(J) may appear to you.”

Moses said to Aaron, “Come to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and the people;(K) sacrifice the offering that is for the people and make atonement for them, as the Lord has commanded.(L)

So Aaron came to the altar and slaughtered the calf as a sin offering(M) for himself. His sons brought the blood to him,(N) and he dipped his finger into the blood and put it on the horns of the altar; the rest of the blood he poured out at the base of the altar.(O) 10 On the altar he burned the fat, the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver from the sin offering, as the Lord commanded Moses; 11 the flesh and the hide(P) he burned up outside the camp.(Q)

12 Then he slaughtered the burnt offering.(R) His sons handed him the blood,(S) and he splashed it against the sides of the altar. 13 They handed him the burnt offering piece by piece, including the head, and he burned them on the altar.(T) 14 He washed the internal organs and the legs and burned them on top of the burnt offering on the altar.(U)

15 Aaron then brought the offering that was for the people.(V) He took the goat for the people’s sin offering and slaughtered it and offered it for a sin offering as he did with the first one.

16 He brought the burnt offering and offered it in the prescribed way.(W) 17 He also brought the grain offering, took a handful of it and burned it on the altar in addition to the morning’s burnt offering.(X)

18 He slaughtered the ox and the ram as the fellowship offering for the people.(Y) His sons handed him the blood, and he splashed it against the sides of the altar. 19 But the fat portions of the ox and the ram—the fat tail, the layer of fat, the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver— 20 these they laid on the breasts, and then Aaron burned the fat on the altar. 21 Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh before the Lord as a wave offering,(Z) as Moses commanded.

22 Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them.(AA) And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down.

23 Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting.(AB) When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord(AC) appeared to all the people. 24 Fire(AD) came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.(AE)

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 9:2 Or purification offering; here and throughout this chapter
  2. Leviticus 9:4 The Hebrew word can refer to either male or female; also in verses 18 and 19.

The Lord Sends Rain

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. (A)And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43 And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. 44 And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, (B)a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” 45 And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to (C)Jezreel. 46 (D)And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, (E)and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of (F)Jezreel.

Elijah Flees Jezebel

19 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how (G)he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, (H)“So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to (I)Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. (J)And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food (K)forty days and forty nights to (L)Horeb, the mount of God.

The Lord Speaks to Elijah

There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, (M)the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very (N)jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, (O)thrown down your altars, and (P)killed your prophets with the sword, (Q)and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.(A)

43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.

“There is nothing there,” he said.

Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

44 The seventh time(B) the servant reported, “A cloud(C) as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”

So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”

45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain(D) started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.(E) 46 The power(F) of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt,(G) he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

Elijah Flees to Horeb

19 Now Ahab told Jezebel(H) everything Elijah had done and how he had killed(I) all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely,(J) if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”(K)

Elijah was afraid[a] and ran(L) for his life.(M) When he came to Beersheba(N) in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush,(O) sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life;(P) I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.(Q)

All at once an angel(R) touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty(S) days and forty nights until he reached Horeb,(T) the mountain of God. There he went into a cave(U) and spent the night.

The Lord Appears to Elijah

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”(V)

10 He replied, “I have been very zealous(W) for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant,(X) torn down your altars,(Y) and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left,(Z) and now they are trying to kill me too.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 19:3 Or Elijah saw

The Holy Stones Lie Scattered

(A)How the gold has grown dim,
    how the pure gold is changed!
The holy stones lie scattered
    (B)at the head of every street.

The precious sons of Zion,
    worth their weight in (C)fine gold,
how they are regarded as (D)earthen pots,
    the work of a potter's hands!

Even jackals offer the breast;
    they nurse their young;
but the daughter of my people has become cruel,
    like the ostriches in the wilderness.

The tongue of the nursing infant (E)sticks
    to the roof of its mouth for thirst;
(F)the children beg for food,
    but no one gives to them.

Those who once feasted on delicacies
    perish in the streets;
(G)those who were brought up in purple
    embrace ash heaps.

(H)For the chastisement[a] of the daughter of my people has been greater
    than the punishment[b] of Sodom,
(I)which was overthrown in a moment,
    and no hands were wrung for her.[c]

Her princes were purer than snow,
    whiter than milk;
their bodies were more ruddy than coral,
    the beauty of their form[d] was like sapphire.[e]

(J)Now their face is blacker than soot;
    they are not recognized in the streets;
their skin has shriveled on their bones;
    it has become as dry as wood.

Happier were the victims of the sword
    than the victims of hunger,
who wasted away, pierced
    by lack of the fruits of the field.

10 (K)The hands of (L)compassionate women
    (M)have boiled their own children;
(N)they became their food
    during the destruction of the daughter of my people.

11 (O)The Lord gave full vent to his wrath;
    he poured out his hot anger,
and (P)he kindled a fire in Zion
    that consumed its foundations.

12 (Q)The kings of the earth did not believe,
    nor any of the inhabitants of the world,
that foe or enemy could enter
    the gates of Jerusalem.

13 This was for (R)the sins of her prophets
    and (S)the iniquities of her priests,
who shed in the midst of her
    the blood of the righteous.

14 (T)They wandered, blind, through the streets;
    they were so defiled with blood
(U)that no one was able to touch
    their garments.

15 “Away! (V)Unclean!” people cried at them.
    “Away! Away! Do not touch!”
So they became fugitives and wanderers;
    people said among the nations,
    “They shall stay with us no longer.”

16 (W)The Lord himself[f] has scattered them;
    he will regard them no more;
(X)no honor was shown to the priests,
    (Y)no favor to the elders.

17 (Z)Our eyes failed, ever watching
    (AA)vainly for help;
in our watching we watched
    for (AB)a nation which could not save.

18 (AC)They dogged our steps
    so that we could not walk in our streets;
(AD)our end drew near; our days were numbered,
    for our end had come.

19 Our pursuers were (AE)swifter
    than the eagles in the heavens;
they chased us on the mountains;
    they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.

20 (AF)The breath of our nostrils, (AG)the Lord's anointed,
    was captured (AH)in their pits,
of whom we said, (AI)“Under his shadow
    we shall live among the nations.”

21 (AJ)Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom,
    you who dwell in (AK)the land of Uz;
but to you also (AL)the cup shall pass;
    you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare.

22 (AM)The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter of Zion, is accomplished;
    he will keep you in exile no longer;[g]
but (AN)your iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he will punish;
    he will uncover your sins.

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 4:6 Or iniquity
  2. Lamentations 4:6 Or sin
  3. Lamentations 4:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  4. Lamentations 4:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  5. Lamentations 4:7 Hebrew lapis lazuli
  6. Lamentations 4:16 Hebrew The face of the Lord
  7. Lamentations 4:22 Or he will not exile you again

[a]How the gold has lost its luster,
    the fine gold become dull!
The sacred gems are scattered
    at every street corner.(A)

How the precious children of Zion,(B)
    once worth their weight in gold,
are now considered as pots of clay,
    the work of a potter’s hands!

Even jackals offer their breasts
    to nurse their young,
but my people have become heartless
    like ostriches in the desert.(C)

Because of thirst(D) the infant’s tongue
    sticks to the roof of its mouth;(E)
the children beg for bread,
    but no one gives it to them.(F)

Those who once ate delicacies
    are destitute in the streets.
Those brought up in royal purple(G)
    now lie on ash heaps.(H)

The punishment of my people
    is greater than that of Sodom,(I)
which was overthrown in a moment
    without a hand turned to help her.

Their princes were brighter than snow
    and whiter than milk,
their bodies more ruddy than rubies,
    their appearance like lapis lazuli.

But now they are blacker(J) than soot;
    they are not recognized in the streets.
Their skin has shriveled on their bones;(K)
    it has become as dry as a stick.

Those killed by the sword are better off
    than those who die of famine;(L)
racked with hunger, they waste away
    for lack of food from the field.(M)

10 With their own hands compassionate women
    have cooked their own children,(N)
who became their food
    when my people were destroyed.

11 The Lord has given full vent to his wrath;(O)
    he has poured out(P) his fierce anger.(Q)
He kindled a fire(R) in Zion
    that consumed her foundations.(S)

12 The kings of the earth did not believe,
    nor did any of the peoples of the world,
that enemies and foes could enter
    the gates of Jerusalem.(T)

13 But it happened because of the sins of her prophets
    and the iniquities of her priests,(U)
who shed within her
    the blood(V) of the righteous.

14 Now they grope through the streets
    as if they were blind.(W)
They are so defiled with blood(X)
    that no one dares to touch their garments.

15 “Go away! You are unclean!” people cry to them.
    “Away! Away! Don’t touch us!”
When they flee and wander(Y) about,
    people among the nations say,
    “They can stay here no longer.”(Z)

16 The Lord himself has scattered them;
    he no longer watches over them.(AA)
The priests are shown no honor,
    the elders(AB) no favor.(AC)

17 Moreover, our eyes failed,
    looking in vain(AD) for help;(AE)
from our towers we watched
    for a nation(AF) that could not save us.

18 People stalked us at every step,
    so we could not walk in our streets.
Our end was near, our days were numbered,
    for our end had come.(AG)

19 Our pursuers were swifter
    than eagles(AH) in the sky;
they chased us(AI) over the mountains
    and lay in wait for us in the desert.(AJ)

20 The Lord’s anointed,(AK) our very life breath,
    was caught in their traps.(AL)
We thought that under his shadow(AM)
    we would live among the nations.

21 Rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom,
    you who live in the land of Uz.(AN)
But to you also the cup(AO) will be passed;
    you will be drunk and stripped naked.(AP)

22 Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion;(AQ)
    he will not prolong your exile.
But he will punish your sin, Daughter Edom,
    and expose your wickedness.(AR)

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 4:1 This chapter is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

My Soul Longs for the Courts of the Lord

To the choirmaster: according to (A)The Gittith.[a] A Psalm of (B)the Sons of Korah.

84 How (C)lovely is your (D)dwelling place,
    O Lord of hosts!
My soul (E)longs, yes, (F)faints
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
    to (G)the living God.

Even the sparrow finds a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
    (H)my King and my God.
(I)Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
    ever (J)singing your praise! Selah

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    (K)in whose heart are the highways to Zion.[b]
As they go through the Valley of Baca
    they make it a place of springs;
    (L)the early rain also covers it with (M)pools.
They go (N)from strength to strength;
    each one (O)appears before God in Zion.

O (P)Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
    give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
(Q)Behold our (R)shield, O God;
    look on the face of your anointed!

10 For a day (S)in your courts is better
    than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be (T)a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is (U)a sun and (V)shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor.
(W)No good thing does he withhold
    from those who (X)walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
    (Y)blessed is the one who trusts in you!

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 84:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
  2. Psalm 84:5 Hebrew lacks to Zion

Psalm 84[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

How lovely is your dwelling place,(A)
    Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns,(B) even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.(C)
Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,(D)
    Lord Almighty,(E) my King(F) and my God.(G)
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.[c]

Blessed are those whose strength(H) is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(I)
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;(J)
    the autumn(K) rains also cover it with pools.[d]
They go from strength to strength,(L)
    till each appears(M) before God in Zion.(N)

Hear my prayer,(O) Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield,[e](P) O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.(Q)

10 Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper(R) in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun(S) and shield;(T)
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold(U)
    from those whose walk is blameless.

12 Lord Almighty,
    blessed(V) is the one who trusts in you.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
  2. Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
  4. Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
  5. Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

23 Jesus, (A)when he began his ministry, was about (B)thirty years of age, being (C)the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, (D)the son of Zerubbabel, the son (E)of Shealtiel,[a] the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of (F)Nathan, the son of David, 32 (G)the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 (H)the son of Jacob, (I)the son of Isaac, (J)the son of Abraham, (K)the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 3:27 Greek Salathiel

23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.(A) He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,(B)

the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat,

the son of Levi, the son of Melki,

the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos,

the son of Nahum, the son of Esli,

the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath,

the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein,

the son of Josek, the son of Joda,

27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa,

the son of Zerubbabel,(C) the son of Shealtiel,

the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melki,

the son of Addi, the son of Cosam,

the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,

29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer,

the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat,

the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon,

the son of Judah, the son of Joseph,

the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,

31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna,

the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan,(D)

the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse,

the son of Obed, the son of Boaz,

the son of Salmon,[a] the son of Nahshon,

33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram,[b]

the son of Hezron, the son of Perez,(E)

the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob,

the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham,

the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,(F)

35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu,

the son of Peleg, the son of Eber,

the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan,

the son of Arphaxad,(G) the son of Shem,

the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,(H)

37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch,

the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel,

the son of Kenan,(I) 38 the son of Enosh,

the son of Seth, the son of Adam,

the son of God.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 3:32 Some early manuscripts Sala
  2. Luke 3:33 Some manuscripts Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni; other manuscripts vary widely.

Head Coverings

Now I commend you (A)because you remember me in everything and (B)maintain the traditions (C)even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that (D)the head of every man is Christ, (E)the head of a wife[a] is her husband,[b] and (F)the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife[c] who prays or (G)prophesies (H)with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same (I)as if her head were shaven. For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. For a man ought not to cover his head, since (J)he is the image and glory of God, but (K)woman is the glory of man. For (L)man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but (M)woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.[d] 11 Nevertheless, (N)in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And (O)all things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 (P)If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do (Q)the churches of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 11:3 Greek gunē. This term may refer to a woman or a wife, depending on the context
  2. 1 Corinthians 11:3 Greek anēr. This term may refer to a man or a husband, depending on the context
  3. 1 Corinthians 11:5 In verses 5–13, the Greek word gunē is translated wife in verses that deal with wearing a veil, a sign of being married in first-century culture
  4. 1 Corinthians 11:10 Or messengers, that is, people sent to observe and report

On Covering the Head in Worship

I praise you(A) for remembering me in everything(B) and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.(C) But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ,(D) and the head of the woman is man,[a](E) and the head of Christ is God.(F) Every man who prays or prophesies(G) with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies(H) with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.(I) For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.

A man ought not to cover his head,[b] since he is the image(J) and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man;(K) neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.(L) 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own[c] head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.(M)

13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.(N)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 11:3 Or of the wife is her husband
  2. 1 Corinthians 11:7 Or Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with no covering of hair dishonors her head—she is just like one of the “shorn women.” If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair; but since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she should grow it again. A man ought not to have long hair
  3. 1 Corinthians 11:10 Or have a sign of authority on her