⁴⁹ But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

5 “‘If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify^(A) regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.^(B)

² “‘If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty—if they unwittingly touch anything ceremonially unclean (whether the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or of any unclean creature that moves along the ground)^(C) and they are unaware that they have become unclean,^(D) but then they come to realize their guilt; ³ or if they touch human uncleanness^(E) (anything that would make them unclean)^(F) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt; ⁴ or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath^(G) to do anything, whether good or evil^(H) (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— ⁵ when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess^(I) in what way they have sinned. ⁶ As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat^(J) from the flock as a sin offering^[a];^(K) and the priest shall make atonement^(L) for them for their sin.

⁷ “‘Anyone who cannot afford^(M) a lamb^(N) is to bring two doves or two young pigeons^(O) to the Lord as a penalty for their sin—one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. ⁸ They are to bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one for the sin offering. He is to wring its head from its neck,^(P) not dividing it completely,^{(Q) 9} and is to splash^(R) some of the blood of the sin offering against the side of the altar;^(S) the rest of the blood must be drained out at the base of the altar.^(T) It is a sin offering. ¹⁰ The priest shall then offer the other as a burnt offering in the prescribed way^(U) and make atonement^(V) for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.^(W)

¹¹ “‘If, however, they cannot afford^(X) two doves or two young pigeons,^(Y) they are to bring as an offering for their sin a tenth of an ephah^[b](Z) of the finest flour^(AA) for a sin offering. They must not put olive oil or incense on it, because it is a sin offering. ¹² They are to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial^[c] portion^(AB) and burn it on the altar^(AC) on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. It is a sin offering. ¹³ In this way the priest will make atonement^(AD) for them for any of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest,^(AE) as in the case of the grain offering.^(AF)’”

The Guilt Offering

¹⁴ The Lord said to Moses: ¹⁵ “When anyone is unfaithful to the Lord by sinning unintentionally^(AG) in regard to any of the Lord’s holy things, they are to bring to the Lord as a penalty^(AH) a ram^(AI) from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel.^[d](AJ) It is a guilt offering.^{(AK) 16} They must make restitution^(AL) for what they have failed to do in regard to the holy things, pay an additional penalty of a fifth of its value^(AM) and give it all to the priest. The priest will make atonement for them with the ram as a guilt offering, and they will be forgiven.

¹⁷ “If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though they do not know it,^(AN) they are guilty and will be held responsible.^{(AO) 18} They are to bring to the priest as a guilt offering^(AP) a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the wrong they have committed unintentionally, and they will be forgiven.^{(AQ) 19} It is a guilt offering; they have been guilty of^[e] wrongdoing against the Lord.”^(AR)

Psalm 21^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Sin, Confession and Redemption

²¹ “As for me, this is my covenant^(BF) with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit,^(BG) who is on you, will not depart from you,^(BH) and my words that I have put in your mouth^(BI) will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

Love for Enemies^(F)

²⁷ “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,^{(G) 28} bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.^{(H) 29} If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.^{(I) 31} Do to others as you would have them do to you.^(J)

³² “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?^(K) Even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?^(L) Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them,^(M) and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children^(N) of the Most High,^(O) because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶ Be merciful,^(P) just as your Father^(Q) is merciful.

Judging Others^(R)

³⁷ “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.^(S) Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.^{(T) 38} Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.^(U) For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”^(V)

³⁹ He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?^{(W) 40} The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.^(X)

⁴¹ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴² How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

A Tree and Its Fruit^(Y)

⁴³ “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. ⁴⁴ Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.^(Z) People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. ⁴⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.^(AA)

The Wise and Foolish Builders^(AB)

⁴⁶ “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’^(AC) and do not do what I say?^{(AD) 47} As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice,^(AE) I will show you what they are like. ⁴⁸ They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. ⁴⁹ But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”