41 those listed of the tribe of Asher were (A)41,500.

42 Of the people of Naphtali, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 43 those listed of the tribe of Naphtali were (B)53,400.

44 (C)These are those who were listed, whom Moses and Aaron listed with the help of the chiefs of Israel, twelve men, each representing his fathers' house. 45 So all those listed of the people of Israel, by their fathers' houses, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war in Israel— 46 all those listed were (D)603,550.

Levites Exempted

47 But (E)the Levites were not listed along with them by their ancestral tribe. 48 For the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 49 “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not list, and you shall not take a census of them among the people of Israel. 50 (F)But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it (G)and shall camp around the tabernacle. 51 (H)When the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. (I)And if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death. 52 The people of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, each man in his own camp and (J)each man by his own standard. 53 But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no (K)wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. (L)And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.” 54 Thus did the people of Israel; they did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses.

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41 The number from the tribe of Asher(A) was 41,500.

42 From the descendants of Naphtali:(B)

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 43 The number from the tribe of Naphtali(C) was 53,400.(D)

44 These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron(E) and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. 45 All the Israelites twenty years old or more(F) who were able to serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families.(G) 46 The total number was 603,550.(H)

47 The ancestral tribe of the Levites,(I) however, was not counted(J) along with the others. 48 The Lord had said to Moses: 49 “You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. 50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle(K) of the covenant law(L)—over all its furnishings(M) and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. 51 Whenever the tabernacle(N) is to move,(O) the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it.(P) Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death.(Q) 52 The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their standard.(R) 53 The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle(S) of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall(T) on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.(U)

54 The Israelites did all this just as the Lord commanded Moses.

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Zedekiah Reigns in Judah

18 (A)Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was (B)Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 19 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, (C)according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 20 For because of the anger of the Lord it came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence.

(D)And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

Fall and Captivity of Judah

25 (E)And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, (F)Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem and laid siege to it. (G)And they built siegeworks all around it. So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. On the ninth day of the fourth month (H)the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by (I)the king's garden, and (J)the Chaldeans were around the city. And they went in the direction of the (K)Arabah. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him. Then they captured the king (L)and brought him up to the king of Babylon at (M)Riblah, and they passed sentence on him. They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, (N)and put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains and took him to Babylon.

(O)In the fifth month, on (P)the seventh day of the month—that was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon—Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. (Q)And he burned the house of the Lord (R)and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. 10 And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, (S)broke down the walls around Jerusalem. 11 (T)And the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, together with the rest of the multitude, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried into exile. 12 But the captain of the guard left (U)some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen.

13 (V)And the pillars (W)of bronze that were in the house of the Lord, and (X)the stands and (Y)the bronze sea that were in the house of the Lord, the Chaldeans broke in pieces and carried the bronze to Babylon. 14 (Z)And they took away the pots and the shovels and the snuffers and the dishes for incense and all the vessels of bronze used in the temple service, 15 the fire pans also and the bowls. What was of gold the captain of the guard took away as gold, and what was of silver, as silver. 16 As for the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands that Solomon had made for the house of the Lord, (AA)the bronze of all these vessels was beyond weight. 17 (AB)The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits,[a] and on it was a capital of bronze. The height of the capital was three cubits. A latticework and pomegranates, all of bronze, were all around the capital. And the second pillar had the same, with the latticework.

18 (AC)And the captain of the guard took (AD)Seraiah the chief priest and (AE)Zephaniah the second priest and the three keepers of the threshold; 19 and from the city he took an officer who had been in command of the men of war, and (AF)five men of the king's council who were found in the city; and the secretary of the commander of the army, who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the city. 20 And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at (AG)Riblah. 21 And the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at (AH)Riblah in the land of Hamath. (AI)So Judah was taken into exile out of its land.

Gedaliah Made Governor of Judah

22 And over the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he appointed (AJ)Gedaliah the son of (AK)Ahikam, son of Shaphan, governor. 23 (AL)Now when all the captains and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah governor, they came with their men to Gedaliah at (AM)Mizpah, namely, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite. 24 And Gedaliah swore to them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid because of the Chaldean officials. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.” 25 (AN)But in the seventh month, (AO)Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men and struck down Gedaliah and put him to death along with the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah. 26 (AP)Then all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces arose and went to Egypt, for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

Jehoiachin Released from Prison

27 (AQ)And in the thirty-seventh year of (AR)the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously (AS)freed[b] Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. 28 And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life (AT)he dined regularly at the king's table, 30 and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, as long as he lived.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 25:17 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  2. 2 Kings 25:27 Hebrew reign, lifted up the head of

Zedekiah King of Judah(A)

18 Zedekiah(B) was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal(C) daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. 19 He did evil(D) in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done. 20 It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust(E) them from his presence.(F)

The Fall of Jerusalem(G)(H)(I)

Now Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

25 So in the ninth(J) year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar(K) king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He encamped outside the city and built siege works(L) all around it. The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

By the ninth day of the fourth[a] month the famine(M) in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat. Then the city wall was broken through,(N) and the whole army fled at night through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden, though the Babylonians[b] were surrounding(O) the city. They fled toward the Arabah,[c] but the Babylonian[d] army pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered,(P) and he was captured.(Q)

He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah,(R) where sentence was pronounced on him. They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.(S)

On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, an official of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He set fire(T) to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down.(U) 10 The whole Babylonian army under the commander of the imperial guard broke down the walls(V) around Jerusalem. 11 Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard carried into exile(W) the people who remained in the city, along with the rest of the populace and those who had deserted to the king of Babylon.(X) 12 But the commander left behind some of the poorest people(Y) of the land to work the vineyards and fields.

13 The Babylonians broke(Z) up the bronze pillars, the movable stands and the bronze Sea that were at the temple of the Lord and they carried the bronze to Babylon. 14 They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, dishes(AA) and all the bronze articles(AB) used in the temple service. 15 The commander of the imperial guard took away the censers and sprinkling bowls—all that were made of pure gold or silver.(AC)

16 The bronze from the two pillars, the Sea and the movable stands, which Solomon had made for the temple of the Lord, was more than could be weighed. 17 Each pillar(AD) was eighteen cubits[e] high. The bronze capital on top of one pillar was three cubits[f] high and was decorated with a network and pomegranates of bronze all around. The other pillar, with its network, was similar.

18 The commander of the guard took as prisoners Seraiah(AE) the chief priest, Zephaniah(AF) the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers.(AG) 19 Of those still in the city, he took the officer in charge of the fighting men, and five royal advisers. He also took the secretary who was chief officer in charge of conscripting the people of the land and sixty of the conscripts who were found in the city. 20 Nebuzaradan the commander took them all and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 21 There at Riblah,(AH) in the land of Hamath, the king had them executed.(AI)

So Judah went into captivity,(AJ) away from her land.(AK)

22 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah(AL) son of Ahikam,(AM) the son of Shaphan, to be over the people he had left behind in Judah. 23 When all the army officers and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, Jaazaniah the son of the Maakathite, and their men. 24 Gedaliah took an oath to reassure them and their men. “Do not be afraid of the Babylonian officials,” he said. “Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.”

25 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood, came with ten men and assassinated(AN) Gedaliah and also the men of Judah and the Babylonians who were with him at Mizpah.(AO) 26 At this, all the people from the least to the greatest, together with the army officers, fled to Egypt(AP) for fear of the Babylonians.

Jehoiachin Released(AQ)

27 In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin(AR) king of Judah from prison. He did this on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month. 28 He spoke kindly(AS) to him and gave him a seat of honor(AT) higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table.(AU) 30 Day by day the king gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived.(AV)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 25:3 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text (see Jer. 52:6); Masoretic Text does not have fourth.
  2. 2 Kings 25:4 Or Chaldeans; also in verses 13, 25 and 26
  3. 2 Kings 25:4 Or the Jordan Valley
  4. 2 Kings 25:5 Or Chaldean; also in verses 10 and 24
  5. 2 Kings 25:17 That is, about 27 feet or about 8.1 meters
  6. 2 Kings 25:17 That is, about 4 1/2 feet or about 1.4 meters

Prophecy Against Ammon

25 The word of the Lord came to me: (A)“Son of man, (B)set your face toward (C)the Ammonites and prophesy against them. Say to the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord God: (D)Thus says the Lord God, Because you said, (E)‘Aha!’ over my (F)sanctuary when it was profaned, and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and over the house of Judah when they went into exile, therefore behold, I am handing you over to (G)the people of the East for a possession, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings in your midst. They shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk. I will make (H)Rabbah a (I)pasture for camels and Ammon[a] (J)a fold for flocks. (K)Then you will know that I am the Lord. For thus says the Lord God: Because (L)you have clapped your hands (M)and stamped your feet and (N)rejoiced with all the (O)malice within your soul against the land of Israel, therefore, behold, (P)I have stretched out my hand against you, and (Q)will hand you over as plunder to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and will make you perish out of the countries; I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

Prophecy Against Moab and Seir

“Thus says the Lord God: Because (R)Moab and (S)Seir[b] said, ‘Behold, the (T)house of Judah is like all the other nations,’ therefore (U)I will lay open the flank of Moab from the cities, from its cities on its frontier, the glory of the country, (V)Beth-jeshimoth, (W)Baal-meon, and (X)Kiriathaim. 10 I will give it (Y)along with the Ammonites (Z)to the people of the East as a possession, (AA)that the Ammonites may be remembered no more among the nations, 11 (AB)and I will execute judgments upon Moab. (AC)Then they will know that I am the Lord.

Prophecy Against Edom

12 “Thus says the Lord God: Because (AD)Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended (AE)in taking vengeance on them, 13 therefore thus says the Lord God, (AF)I will stretch out my hand against Edom and cut off from it man and beast. And I will make it desolate; from (AG)Teman even to (AH)Dedan they shall fall by the sword. 14 And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom (AI)by the hand of my people Israel, and they shall do in Edom according to my anger and according to my wrath, and (AJ)they shall know my vengeance, declares the Lord God.

Prophecy Against Philistia

15 “Thus says the Lord God: Because (AK)the Philistines (AL)acted revengefully and took vengeance (AM)with malice of soul to destroy in never-ending enmity, 16 therefore thus says the Lord God, (AN)Behold, I will stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off (AO)the Cherethites and destroy the rest of the seacoast. 17 I will execute great vengeance on them (AP)with wrathful rebukes. (AQ)Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I lay my vengeance upon them.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 25:5 Hebrew and the Ammonites
  2. Ezekiel 25:8 Septuagint lacks and Seir

A Prophecy Against Ammon

25 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face against(A) the Ammonites(B) and prophesy against them.(C) Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you said “Aha!(D)” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated(E) and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile,(F) therefore I am going to give you to the people of the East(G) as a possession. They will set up their camps(H) and pitch their tents among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.(I) I will turn Rabbah(J) into a pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep.(K) Then you will know that I am the Lord. For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you have clapped your hands(L) and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel,(M) therefore I will stretch out my hand(N) against you and give you as plunder(O) to the nations. I will wipe you out from among the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy(P) you, and you will know that I am the Lord.(Q)’”

A Prophecy Against Moab

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Moab(R) and Seir(S) said, “Look, Judah has become like all the other nations,” therefore I will expose the flank of Moab, beginning at its frontier towns—Beth Jeshimoth(T), Baal Meon(U) and Kiriathaim(V)—the glory of that land. 10 I will give Moab along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a possession, so that the Ammonites will not be remembered(W) among the nations; 11 and I will inflict punishment on Moab. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”(X)

A Prophecy Against Edom

12 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Edom(Y) took revenge on Judah and became very guilty by doing so, 13 therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will stretch out my hand(Z) against Edom and kill both man and beast.(AA) I will lay it waste, and from Teman(AB) to Dedan(AC) they will fall by the sword.(AD) 14 I will take vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they will deal with Edom in accordance with my anger(AE) and my wrath; they will know my vengeance, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”(AF)

A Prophecy Against Philistia

15 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because the Philistines(AG) acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice(AH) in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah, 16 therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines,(AI) and I will wipe out the Kerethites(AJ) and destroy those remaining along the coast.(AK) 17 I will carry out great vengeance(AL) on them and punish(AM) them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the Lord,(AN) when I take vengeance on them.(AO)’”

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To Your Name Give Glory

115 (A)Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
    (B)for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Why should the nations say,
    (C)“Where is their God?”
(D)Our God is in the heavens;
    (E)he does all that he pleases.

(F)Their idols are silver and gold,
    (G)the work of human hands.
They have mouths, (H)but do not speak;
    eyes, but do not see.
They have ears, but do not hear;
    noses, but do not smell.
They have hands, but do not feel;
    feet, but do not walk;
    and they do not make a sound in their throat.
(I)Those who make them become like them;
    so do all who trust in them.

O (J)Israel,[a] (K)trust in the Lord!
    He is their (L)help and their shield.
10 O (M)house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and (N)their shield.
11 You (O)who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.

12 The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us;
    he will bless (P)the house of Israel;
    he will bless (Q)the house of Aaron;
13 he will (R)bless those who fear the Lord,
    (S)both the small and the great.

14 May the Lord (T)give you increase,
    you and your children!
15 May (U)you be blessed by the Lord,
    (V)who made heaven and earth!

16 The heavens are the Lord's heavens,
    but the earth he has given to the children of man.
17 (W)The dead do not praise the Lord,
    nor do any who go down into (X)silence.
18 But (Y)we will bless the Lord
    from this time forth and forevermore.
(Z)Praise the Lord!

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 115:9 Masoretic Text; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac O house of Israel

Psalm 115(A)

Not to us, Lord, not to us
    but to your name be the glory,(B)
    because of your love and faithfulness.(C)

Why do the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”(D)
Our God is in heaven;(E)
    he does whatever pleases him.(F)
But their idols are silver and gold,(G)
    made by human hands.(H)
They have mouths, but cannot speak,(I)
    eyes, but cannot see.
They have ears, but cannot hear,
    noses, but cannot smell.
They have hands, but cannot feel,
    feet, but cannot walk,
    nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
Those who make them will be like them,
    and so will all who trust in them.

All you Israelites, trust(J) in the Lord
    he is their help and shield.
10 House of Aaron,(K) trust in the Lord
    he is their help and shield.
11 You who fear him,(L) trust in the Lord
    he is their help and shield.

12 The Lord remembers(M) us and will bless us:(N)
    He will bless his people Israel,
    he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear(O) the Lord
    small and great alike.

14 May the Lord cause you to flourish,(P)
    both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven(Q) and earth.

16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord,(R)
    but the earth he has given(S) to mankind.
17 It is not the dead(T) who praise the Lord,
    those who go down to the place of silence;
18 it is we who extol the Lord,(U)
    both now and forevermore.(V)

Praise the Lord.[a](W)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 115:18 Hebrew Hallelu Yah

Not Peace, but Division

49 (A)“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 (B)I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how (C)great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51 (D)Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? (E)No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, (F)father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Interpreting the Time

54 He also said to the crowds, (G)“When you see (H)a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. 55 And (I)when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be (J)scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! (K)You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

Settle with Your Accuser

57 “And why (L)do you not judge (M)for yourselves what is right? 58 (N)As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. 59 I tell you, (O)you will never get out until you have paid the very last (P)penny.”[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 12:59 Greek lepton, a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)

Not Peace but Division(A)

49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism(B) to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!(C) 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”(D)

Interpreting the Times

54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does.(E) 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?(F)

57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.(G) 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”(H)

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By Faith, or by Works of the Law?

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? (A)It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly (B)portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: (C)Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by (D)hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? (E)Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by[a] the flesh? (F)Did you suffer[b] so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and (G)works miracles among you do so (H)by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as (I)Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

Know then that it is (J)those of faith who are (K)the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that (L)God would justify[c] the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, (M)“In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

10 For all who rely on works of the law are (N)under a curse; for it is written, (O)“Cursed be everyone who does not (P)abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that (Q)no one is justified before God by the law, for (R)“The righteous shall live by faith.”[d] 12 But the law is not of faith, rather (S)“The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ (T)redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, (U)“Cursed is everyone who is hanged (V)on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might (W)come to the Gentiles, so that (X)we might receive (Y)the promised Spirit[e] through faith.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 3:3 Or now ending with
  2. Galatians 3:4 Or experience
  3. Galatians 3:8 Or count righteous; also verses 11, 24
  4. Galatians 3:11 Or The one who by faith is righteous will live
  5. Galatians 3:14 Greek receive the promise of the Spirit

Faith or Works of the Law

You foolish(A) Galatians!(B) Who has bewitched you?(C) Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.(D) I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit(E) by the works of the law,(F) or by believing what you heard?(G) Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?[a] Have you experienced[b] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles(H) among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?(I) So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[c](J)

Understand, then, that those who have faith(K) are children of Abraham.(L) Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”[d](M) So those who rely on faith(N) are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.(O)

10 For all who rely on the works of the law(P) are under a curse,(Q) as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”[e](R) 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God,(S) because “the righteous will live by faith.”[f](T) 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”[g](U) 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law(V) by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”[h](W) 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,(X) so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.(Y)

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 3:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
  2. Galatians 3:4 Or suffered
  3. Galatians 3:6 Gen. 15:6
  4. Galatians 3:8 Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18
  5. Galatians 3:10 Deut. 27:26
  6. Galatians 3:11 Hab. 2:4
  7. Galatians 3:12 Lev. 18:5
  8. Galatians 3:13 Deut. 21:23