The Israelites Leave Sinai

¹¹ On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year,^(A) the cloud lifted^(B) from above the tabernacle of the covenant law.^{(C) 12} Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran.^{(D) 13} They set out, this first time, at the Lord’s command through Moses.^(E)

¹⁴ The divisions of the camp of Judah went first, under their standard.^(F) Nahshon son of Amminadab^(G) was in command. ¹⁵ Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe^(H) of Issachar,^{(I) 16} and Eliab son of Helon^(J) was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun.^{(K) 17} Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and Merarites, who carried it, set out.^(L)

¹⁸ The divisions of the camp of Reuben^(M) went next, under their standard.^(N) Elizur son of Shedeur^(O) was in command. ¹⁹ Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon,^{(P) 20} and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad.^{(Q) 21} Then the Kohathites^(R) set out, carrying the holy things.^(S) The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.^(T)

The Genealogy of Saul^(A)

One Nation Under One King

¹⁵ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁶ “Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, ‘Belonging to Judah and the Israelites^(A) associated with him.^(B)’ Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, ‘Belonging to Joseph (that is, to Ephraim) and all the Israelites associated with him.’ ¹⁷ Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.^(C)

¹⁸ “When your people ask you, ‘Won’t you tell us what you mean by this?’^{(D) 19} say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim’s hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah’s stick. I will make them into a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.’^{(E) 20} Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on ²¹ and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land.^{(F) 22} I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel.^(G) There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.^{(H) 23} They will no longer defile^(I) themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding,^[a](J) and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.^(K)

²⁴ “‘My servant David^(L) will be king^(M) over them, and they will all have one shepherd.^(N) They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees.^{(O) 25} They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your ancestors lived.^(P) They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever,^(Q) and David my servant will be their prince forever.^{(R) 26} I will make a covenant of peace^(S) with them; it will be an everlasting covenant.^(T) I will establish them and increase their numbers,^(U) and I will put my sanctuary among them^(V) forever.^{(W) 27} My dwelling place^(X) will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.^{(Y) 28} Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy,^(Z) when my sanctuary is among them forever.^(AA)’”

Psalm 128

A song of ascents.

Psalm 129

A song of ascents.

The Parable of the Ten Minas^(A)

¹¹ While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God^(B) was going to appear at once.^{(C) 12} He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. ¹³ So he called ten of his servants^(D) and gave them ten minas.^[a] ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

¹⁴ “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

¹⁵ “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

¹⁶ “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

¹⁷ “‘Well done, my good servant!’^(E) his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’^(F)

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord^(A) and in his mighty power.^{(B) 11} Put on the full armor of God,^(C) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,^(D) but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(E) against the powers^(F) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.^{(G) 13} Therefore put on the full armor of God,^(H) so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,^(I) with the breastplate of righteousness in place,^{(J) 15} and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.^{(K) 16} In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,^(L) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^{(M) 17} Take the helmet of salvation^(N) and the sword of the Spirit,^(O) which is the word of God.^(P)

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit^(Q) on all occasions^(R) with all kinds of prayers and requests.^(S) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying^(T) for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me,^(U) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly^(V) make known the mystery^(W) of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador^(X) in chains.^(Y) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Final Greetings

²¹ Tychicus,^(Z) the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. ²² I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are,^(AA) and that he may encourage you.^(AB)

²³ Peace^(AC) to the brothers and sisters,^[a] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.^[b]