Stages in Israel’s Journey

33 Here are the stages in the journey^(A) of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt^(B) by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.^{(C) 2} At the Lord’s command Moses recorded^(D) the stages in their journey^(E). This is their journey by stages:

Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges

⁴ Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. ⁵ He appointed judges^(A) in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. ⁶ He told them, “Consider carefully what you do,^(B) because you are not judging for mere mortals^(C) but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. ⁷ Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice^(D) or partiality^(E) or bribery.”

⁸ In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites,^(F) priests^(G) and heads of Israelite families to administer^(H) the law of the Lord and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. ⁹ He gave them these orders: “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. ¹⁰ In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations—you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord;^(I) otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin.

¹¹ “Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage,^(J) and may the Lord be with those who do well.”

The Charge Against Israel

¹⁹ Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself;^(A) he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son^(B) and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these,^(C) so that you will be amazed. ²¹ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,^(D) even so the Son gives life^(E) to whom he is pleased to give it. ²² Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,^{(F) 23} that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.^(G)

²⁴ “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me^(H) has eternal life^(I) and will not be judged^(J) but has crossed over from death to life.^{(K) 25} Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come^(L) when the dead will hear^(M) the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. ²⁶ For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life^(N) in himself. ²⁷ And he has given him authority to judge^(O) because he is the Son of Man.

²⁸ “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming^(P) when all who are in their graves will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.^(Q)

A Call to Persevere in Faith

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence^(A) to enter the Most Holy Place^(B) by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way^(C) opened for us through the curtain,^(D) that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest^(E) over the house of God,^{(F) 22} let us draw near to God^(G) with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,^(H) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience^(I) and having our bodies washed with pure water.^{(J) 23} Let us hold unswervingly to the hope^(K) we profess,^(L) for he who promised is faithful.^{(M) 24} And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,^{(N) 25} not giving up meeting together,^(O) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another^(P)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.^(Q)

²⁶ If we deliberately keep on sinning^(R) after we have received the knowledge of the truth,^(S) no sacrifice for sins is left, ²⁷ but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire^(T) that will consume the enemies of God. ²⁸ Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.^{(U) 29} How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God^(V) underfoot,^(W) who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant^(X) that sanctified them,^(Y) and who has insulted the Spirit^(Z) of grace?^{(AA) 30} For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[a](AB) and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”^{[b](AC) 31} It is a dreadful thing^(AD) to fall into the hands^(AE) of the living God.^(AF)