16 (A)“But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. 17 And if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. 18 Or if he struck him down with a wooden tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. 19 (B)The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death. 20 And if he pushed him out of hatred or hurled something at him, (C)lying in wait, so that he died, 21 or in enmity struck him down with his hand, so that he died, then he who struck the blow shall be put to death. He is a murderer. (D)The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.

22 “But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on him (E)without lying in wait 23 or used a stone that could cause death, and without seeing him dropped it on him, so that he died, though he was not his enemy and did not seek his harm, 24 then (F)the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and (G)the avenger of blood, in accordance with these rules. 25 And the congregation shall rescue the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he had fled, and he shall live in it (H)until the death of the high priest (I)who was anointed with the holy oil. 26 But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the boundaries of his city of refuge to which he fled, 27 and (J)the avenger of blood finds him outside the boundaries of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood. 28 For he must remain in his city of refuge (K)until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession. 29 And these things shall be for (L)a statute and rule for you throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.

30 “If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the (M)evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. 31 Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death. 32 And you shall accept no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest. 33 You shall not (N)pollute the land in which you live, for blood (O)pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except (P)by the blood of the one who shed it. 34 (Q)You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, (R)for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel.”

Read full chapter

16 “‘If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with an iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death.(A) 17 Or if anyone is holding a stone and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. 18 Or if anyone is holding a wooden object and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. 19 The avenger of blood(B) shall put the murderer to death; when the avenger comes upon the murderer, the avenger shall put the murderer to death.(C) 20 If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally(D) so that they die 21 or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death;(E) that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood(F) shall put the murderer to death when they meet.

22 “‘But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally(G) 23 or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, 24 the assembly(H) must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. 25 The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to which they fled. The accused must stay there until the death of the high priest,(I) who was anointed(J) with the holy oil.(K)

26 “‘But if the accused ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which they fled 27 and the avenger of blood finds them outside the city, the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder. 28 The accused must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest; only after the death of the high priest may they return to their own property.

29 “‘This is to have the force of law(L) for you throughout the generations to come,(M) wherever you live.(N)

30 “‘Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.(O)

31 “‘Do not accept a ransom(P) for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. They are to be put to death.

32 “‘Do not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a city of refuge and so allow them to go back and live on their own land before the death of the high priest.

33 “‘Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land,(Q) and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. 34 Do not defile the land(R) where you live and where I dwell,(S) for I, the Lord, dwell among the Israelites.’”

Read full chapter

Joash Assassinated

23 At the end of the year (A)the army of the Syrians came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, (B)the Lord delivered into their hand a very great army, (C)because Judah[a] had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. Thus they (D)executed judgment on Joash.

25 When they had departed from him, leaving him (E)severely wounded, (F)his servants conspired against him because of the blood of (G)the son[b] of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, (H)but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26 Those who conspired against him were Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonite, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabite. 27 Accounts of his sons and of the many oracles against him and of (I)the rebuilding[c] of the house of God are written in the (J)Story[d] of the Book of the Kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

Amaziah Reigns in Judah

25 (K)Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, (L)yet not with a whole heart. And as soon as the royal power was firmly his, he killed his servants who had struck down the king his father. But he did not put their children to death, according to what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, (M)“Fathers shall not die because of their children, nor children die because of their fathers, but each one shall die for his own sin.”

Amaziah's Victories

Then Amaziah assembled the men of Judah and set them by fathers' houses under commanders of thousands and of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He mustered those (N)twenty years old and upward, and found that they were (O)300,000 choice men, fit for war, (P)able to handle spear and shield. He hired also 100,000 mighty men of valor from Israel for 100 talents[e] of silver. But (Q)a man of God came to him and said, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel, with all these Ephraimites. But go, act, be strong for the battle. Why should you suppose that God will cast you down before the enemy? (R)For God has power to help or to cast down.” And Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.” 10 Then Amaziah discharged the army that had come to him from Ephraim to go home again. And they became very angry with Judah and returned home in fierce anger. 11 But Amaziah took courage and led out his people and went to the (S)Valley of Salt and struck down (T)10,000 men of Seir. 12 The men of Judah captured another 10,000 alive and took them to the top of a rock and threw them down from the top of the rock, and they were all dashed to pieces. 13 But the men of the army whom Amaziah sent back, not letting them go with him to battle, raided the cities of Judah, (U)from Samaria to Beth-horon, and struck down 3,000 people in them and took much spoil.

Amaziah's Idolatry

14 After Amaziah came from striking down the Edomites, (V)he brought the gods (W)of the men of Seir and set them up as his gods and worshiped them, making offerings to them. 15 Therefore the Lord was angry with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of a people (X)who did not deliver their own people from your hand?” 16 But as he was speaking, the king said to him, “Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but said, “I know that (Y)God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 24:24 Hebrew they
  2. 2 Chronicles 24:25 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew sons
  3. 2 Chronicles 24:27 Hebrew founding
  4. 2 Chronicles 24:27 Or Exposition
  5. 2 Chronicles 25:6 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms

23 At the turn of the year,[a] the army of Aram marched against Joash; it invaded Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the leaders of the people.(A) They sent all the plunder to their king in Damascus. 24 Although the Aramean army had come with only a few men,(B) the Lord delivered into their hands a much larger army.(C) Because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, judgment was executed on Joash. 25 When the Arameans withdrew, they left Joash severely wounded. His officials conspired against him for murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him in his bed. So he died and was buried(D) in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

26 Those who conspired against him were Zabad,[b] son of Shimeath an Ammonite woman, and Jehozabad, son of Shimrith[c](E) a Moabite woman.(F) 27 The account of his sons, the many prophecies about him, and the record of the restoration of the temple of God are written in the annotations on the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son succeeded him as king.

Amaziah King of Judah(G)(H)(I)

25 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly.(J) After the kingdom was firmly in his control, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king. Yet he did not put their children to death, but acted in accordance with what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses,(K) where the Lord commanded: “Parents shall not be put to death for their children, nor children be put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.”[d](L)

Amaziah called the people of Judah together and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He then mustered(M) those twenty years old(N) or more and found that there were three hundred thousand men fit for military service,(O) able to handle the spear and shield. He also hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel for a hundred talents[e] of silver.

But a man of God came to him and said, “Your Majesty, these troops from Israel(P) must not march with you, for the Lord is not with Israel—not with any of the people of Ephraim. Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow.”(Q)

Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?”

The man of God replied, “The Lord can give you much more than that.”(R)

10 So Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. They were furious with Judah and left for home in a great rage.(S)

11 Amaziah then marshaled his strength and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he killed ten thousand men of Seir. 12 The army of Judah also captured ten thousand men alive, took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces.(T)

13 Meanwhile the troops that Amaziah had sent back and had not allowed to take part in the war raided towns belonging to Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed three thousand people and carried off great quantities of plunder.

14 When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods,(U) bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. 15 The anger of the Lord burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, “Why do you consult this people’s gods, which could not save(V) their own people from your hand?”

16 While he was still speaking, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you an adviser to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?”

So the prophet stopped but said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 24:23 Probably in the spring
  2. 2 Chronicles 24:26 A variant of Jozabad
  3. 2 Chronicles 24:26 A variant of Shomer
  4. 2 Chronicles 25:4 Deut. 24:16
  5. 2 Chronicles 25:6 That is, about 3 3/4 tons or about 3.4 metric tons; also in verse 9

10 (A)Israel is a luxuriant vine
    that yields its fruit.
The more his fruit increased,
    (B)the more altars he built;
as his country improved,
    he improved his pillars.
Their heart is false;
    now they must bear their guilt.
The Lord[a] will break down their altars
    and destroy their pillars.

For now they will say:
    (C)“We have no king,
for we do not fear the Lord;
    and a king—what could he do for us?”
They utter (D)mere words;
    with empty[b] oaths they make covenants;
so (E)judgment springs up like poisonous weeds
    (F)in the furrows of the field.
The inhabitants of Samaria tremble
    for (G)the calf[c] of (H)Beth-aven.
Its people mourn for it, and so do its idolatrous priests—
    those who rejoiced over it and (I)over its glory—
    for it has departed[d] from them.
(J)The thing itself shall be carried to Assyria
    as tribute to (K)the great king.[e]
Ephraim shall be put to shame,
    and Israel shall be ashamed (L)of his idol.[f]

(M)Samaria's king shall perish
    like a twig on the face of the waters.
The high places of (N)Aven, (O)the sin of Israel,
    shall be destroyed.
(P)Thorn and thistle shall grow up
    on their altars,
and (Q)they shall say to the mountains, “Cover us,”
    and to the hills, “Fall on us.”

From (R)the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel;
    there they have continued.
    Shall not the war against the unjust[g] overtake them in Gibeah?
10 (S)When I please, (T)I will discipline them,
    and nations shall be gathered against them
    when they are bound up for (U)their double iniquity.

11 Ephraim was a trained calf
    that (V)loved to thresh,
    and I spared her fair neck;
but I will put (W)Ephraim to the yoke;
    (X)Judah must plow;
    Jacob must harrow for himself.
12 (Y)Sow for yourselves righteousness;
    reap steadfast love;
    (Z)break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the Lord,
    that he may come and (AA)rain righteousness upon you.

13 (AB)You have plowed iniquity;
    you have reaped injustice;
    you have eaten the fruit of lies.
Because you have trusted in your own way
    and in the multitude of your warriors,
14 therefore (AC)the tumult of war shall arise among your people,
    and all your fortresses shall be destroyed,
as (AD)Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle;
    (AE)mothers were dashed in pieces with their children.
15 Thus it shall be done to you, O (AF)Bethel,
    because of your great evil.
At dawn (AG)the king of Israel
    shall be utterly cut off.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 10:2 Hebrew He
  2. Hosea 10:4 Or vain (see Exodus 20:7)
  3. Hosea 10:5 Or calves
  4. Hosea 10:5 Or has gone into exile
  5. Hosea 10:6 Or to King Jareb
  6. Hosea 10:6 Or counsel
  7. Hosea 10:9 Hebrew the children of injustice

10 Israel was a spreading vine;(A)
    he brought forth fruit for himself.
As his fruit increased,
    he built more altars;(B)
as his land prospered,(C)
    he adorned his sacred stones.(D)
Their heart is deceitful,(E)
    and now they must bear their guilt.(F)
The Lord will demolish their altars(G)
    and destroy their sacred stones.(H)

Then they will say, “We have no king
    because we did not revere the Lord.
But even if we had a king,
    what could he do for us?”
They make many promises,
    take false oaths(I)
    and make agreements;(J)
therefore lawsuits spring up
    like poisonous weeds(K) in a plowed field.
The people who live in Samaria fear
    for the calf-idol(L) of Beth Aven.[a](M)
Its people will mourn over it,
    and so will its idolatrous priests,(N)
those who had rejoiced over its splendor,
    because it is taken from them into exile.(O)
It will be carried to Assyria(P)
    as tribute(Q) for the great king.(R)
Ephraim will be disgraced;(S)
    Israel will be ashamed(T) of its foreign alliances.
Samaria’s king will be destroyed,(U)
    swept away like a twig on the surface of the waters.
The high places(V) of wickedness[b](W) will be destroyed—
    it is the sin of Israel.
Thorns(X) and thistles will grow up
    and cover their altars.(Y)
Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”(Z)
    and to the hills, “Fall on us!”(AA)

“Since the days of Gibeah,(AB) you have sinned,(AC) Israel,
    and there you have remained.[c]
Will not war again overtake
    the evildoers in Gibeah?
10 When I please, I will punish(AD) them;
    nations will be gathered against them
    to put them in bonds for their double sin.
11 Ephraim is a trained heifer
    that loves to thresh;
so I will put a yoke(AE)
    on her fair neck.
I will drive Ephraim,
    Judah must plow,
    and Jacob must break up the ground.
12 Sow(AF) righteousness(AG) for yourselves,
    reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;(AH)
    for it is time to seek(AI) the Lord,
until he comes
    and showers his righteousness(AJ) on you.
13 But you have planted wickedness,
    you have reaped evil,(AK)
    you have eaten the fruit of deception.(AL)
Because you have depended on your own strength
    and on your many warriors,(AM)
14 the roar of battle will rise against your people,
    so that all your fortresses will be devastated(AN)
as Shalman(AO) devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle,
    when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.(AP)
15 So will it happen to you, Bethel,
    because your wickedness is great.
When that day dawns,
    the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.(AQ)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 10:5 Beth Aven means house of wickedness (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means house of God).
  2. Hosea 10:8 Hebrew aven, a reference to Beth Aven (a derogatory name for Bethel); see verse 5.
  3. Hosea 10:9 Or there a stand was taken

22 (A)Without counsel plans fail,
    but with many advisers they succeed.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
    and (B)a word in season, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upward (C)for the prudent,
    that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25 The Lord tears down the house of (D)the proud
    but (E)maintains (F)the widow's boundaries.
26 (G)The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
    but (H)gracious words are pure.
27 Whoever is (I)greedy for unjust gain (J)troubles his own household,
    but he who hates (K)bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous (L)ponders how to answer,
    but (M)the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is (N)far from the wicked,
    but he (O)hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 (P)The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and (Q)good news refreshes[a] the bones.
31 (R)The ear that listens to (S)life-giving reproof
    will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoever (T)ignores instruction (U)despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof (V)gains intelligence.
33 (W)The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and (X)humility comes before honor.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew makes fat

22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,(A)
    but with many advisers(B) they succeed.(C)

23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply(D)
    and how good is a timely word!(E)

24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent
    to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud,(F)
    but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.(G)

26 The Lord detests the thoughts(H) of the wicked,(I)
    but gracious words are pure(J) in his sight.

27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,
    but the one who hates bribes will live.(K)

28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,(L)
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.(M)

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.(N)

30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.(O)

31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home among the wise.(P)

32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,(Q)
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.(R)

33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,(S)
    and humility comes before honor.(T)

Read full chapter

35 Jesus said to them, (A)“I am the bread of life; (B)whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 (C)All that (D)the Father gives me will come to me, and (E)whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For (F)I have come down from heaven, not to do (G)my own will but (H)the will of him (I)who sent me. 39 And (J)this is the will of him who sent me, (K)that I should lose nothing of (L)all that he has given me, but (M)raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who (N)looks on the Son and (O)believes in him (P)should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, (Q)“I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, (R)“Is not this Jesus, (S)the son of Joseph, whose father and mother (T)we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me (U)draws him. And (V)I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, (W)‘And they will all be (X)taught by God.’ (Y)Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—

Read full chapter

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am(A) the bread of life.(B) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes(C) in me will never be thirsty.(D) 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me(E) will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven(F) not to do my will but to do the will(G) of him who sent me.(H) 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me,(I) but raise them up at the last day.(J) 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son(K) and believes in him shall have eternal life,(L) and I will raise them up at the last day.”

41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph,(M) whose father and mother we know?(N) How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”(O)

43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them,(P) and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’[a](Q) Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. John 6:45 Isaiah 54:13

14 (A)Strive for peace with everyone, and for the (B)holiness (C)without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one (D)fails to obtain the grace of God; that no (E)“root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is (F)sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that (G)afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

18 For you have not come to (H)what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and (I)the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words (J)made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, (K)“If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, (L)so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to (M)Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, (N)the heavenly Jerusalem, and to (O)innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to (P)the assembly[a] of the firstborn who are (Q)enrolled in heaven, and to (R)God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, (S)the mediator of a new covenant, and to (T)the sprinkled blood (U)that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For (V)if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time (W)his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, (X)“Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates (Y)the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving (Z)a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus (AA)let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our (AB)God is a consuming fire.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 12:23 Or church

Warning and Encouragement

14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone(A) and to be holy;(B) without holiness no one will see the Lord.(C) 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God(D) and that no bitter root(E) grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral,(F) or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.(G) 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears,(H) he could not change what he had done.

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;(I) 19 to a trumpet blast(J) or to such a voice speaking words(K) that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,(L) 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[a](M) 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”[b](N)

22 But you have come to Mount Zion,(O) to the city(P) of the living God,(Q) the heavenly Jerusalem.(R) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn,(S) whose names are written in heaven.(T) You have come to God, the Judge of all,(U) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,(V) 24 to Jesus the mediator(W) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood(X) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.(Y)

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

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,(AG) let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,(AH) 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”[d](AI)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 12:20 Exodus 19:12,13
  2. Hebrews 12:21 See Deut. 9:19.
  3. Hebrews 12:26 Haggai 2:6
  4. Hebrews 12:29 Deut. 4:24