The Passover

9 The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month^(A) of the second year after they came out of Egypt.^(B) He said, ² “Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover^(C) at the appointed time.^{(D) 3} Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month,^(E) in accordance with all its rules and regulations.^(F)”

⁴ So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover,^{(G) 5} and they did so in the Desert of Sinai^(H) at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.^(I) The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.^(J)

⁶ But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean^(K) on account of a dead body.^(L) So they came to Moses and Aaron^(M) that same day ⁷ and said to Moses, “We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the Lord’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?^(N)”

⁸ Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”^(O)

⁹ Then the Lord said to Moses, ¹⁰ “Tell the Israelites: ‘When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body^(P) or are away on a journey, they are still to celebrate^(Q) the Lord’s Passover, ¹¹ but they are to do it on the fourteenth day of the second month^(R) at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.^{(S) 12} They must not leave any of it till morning^(T) or break any of its bones.^(U) When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations.^{(V) 13} But if anyone who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, they must be cut off from their people^(W) for not presenting the Lord’s offering at the appointed time. They will bear the consequences of their sin.

¹⁴ “‘A foreigner^(X) residing among you is also to celebrate the Lord’s Passover in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for both the foreigner and the native-born.’”

³ Those from Judah, from Benjamin, and from Ephraim and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem were:

Israel’s Restoration Assured

¹⁶ Again the word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁷ “Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman’s monthly uncleanness^(A) in my sight.^{(B) 18} So I poured out^(C) my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. ¹⁹ I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered^(D) through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions.^{(E) 20} And wherever they went among the nations they profaned^(F) my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’^{(G) 21} I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.^(H)

²² “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name,^(I) which you have profaned^(J) among the nations where you have gone.^{(K) 23} I will show the holiness of my great name,^(L) which has been profaned^(M) among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,^(N) declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy^(O) through you before their eyes.^(P)

²⁴ “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.^{(Q) 25} I will sprinkle^(R) clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse^(S) you from all your impurities^(T) and from all your idols.^{(U) 26} I will give you a new heart^(V) and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone^(W) and give you a heart of flesh.^{(X) 27} And I will put my Spirit^(Y) in you and move you to follow my decrees^(Z) and be careful to keep my laws.^{(AA) 28} Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people,^(AB) and I will be your God.^{(AC) 29} I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine^(AD) upon you. ³⁰ I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine.^{(AE) 31} Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices.^{(AF) 32} I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed^(AG) and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!^(AH)

³³ “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse^(AI) you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins^(AJ) will be rebuilt.^{(AK) 34} The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. ³⁵ They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden;^(AL) the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.^(AM)” ³⁶ Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’^(AN)

³⁷ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Once again I will yield to Israel’s plea^(AO) and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep,^{(AP) 38} as numerous as the flocks for offerings^(AQ) at Jerusalem during her appointed festivals. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.^(AR)”

Psalm 124

A song of ascents. Of David.

Psalm 125

A song of ascents.

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time^(A)

³¹ Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem,^(B) and everything that is written by the prophets^(C) about the Son of Man^(D) will be fulfilled. ³² He will be delivered over to the Gentiles.^(E) They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; ³³ they will flog him^(F) and kill him.^(G) On the third day^(H) he will rise again.”^(I)

³⁴ The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.^(J)

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight^(K)

³⁵ As Jesus approached Jericho,^(L) a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. ³⁶ When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. ³⁷ They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”^(M)

³⁸ He called out, “Jesus, Son of David,^(N) have mercy^(O) on me!”

³⁹ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”^(P)

⁴⁰ Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, ⁴¹ “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

⁴² Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”^{(Q) 43} Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.^(R)

Instructions for Christian Households^(A)

²¹ Submit to one another^(B) out of reverence for Christ.

²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands^(C) as you do to the Lord.^{(D) 23} For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,^(E) his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands^(F) in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives,^(G) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her^{(H) 26} to make her holy,^(I) cleansing^[a] her by the washing^(J) with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself^(K) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.^{(L) 28} In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives^(M) as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body.^{(N) 31} “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^{[b](O) 32} This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife^(P) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.