Jacob’s Dream at Bethel

¹⁰ Jacob left Beersheba^(A) and set out for Harran.^{(B) 11} When he reached a certain place,^(C) he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head^(D) and lay down to sleep. ¹² He had a dream^(E) in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.^{(F) 13} There above it^[a] stood the Lord,^(G) and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.^(H) I will give you and your descendants the land^(I) on which you are lying.^{(J) 14} Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you^(K) will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.^(L) All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.^{[b](M) 15} I am with you^(N) and will watch over you^(O) wherever you go,^(P) and I will bring you back to this land.^(Q) I will not leave you^(R) until I have done what I have promised you.^(S)”^(T)

¹⁶ When Jacob awoke from his sleep,^(U) he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” ¹⁷ He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place!^(V) This is none other than the house of God;^(W) this is the gate of heaven.”

¹⁸ Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head^(X) and set it up as a pillar^(Y) and poured oil on top of it.^{(Z) 19} He called that place Bethel,^[c](AA) though the city used to be called Luz.^(AB)

²⁰ Then Jacob made a vow,^(AC) saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me^(AD) on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear^{(AE) 21} so that I return safely^(AF) to my father’s household,^(AG) then the Lord^[d] will be my God^{(AH) 22} and^[e] this stone that I have set up as a pillar^(AI) will be God’s house,^(AJ) and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.^(AK)”

³⁰ By myself I can do nothing;^(A) I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just,^(B) for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.^(C)

Testimonies About Jesus

³¹ “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.^{(D) 32} There is another who testifies in my favor,^(E) and I know that his testimony about me is true.

³³ “You have sent to John and he has testified^(F) to the truth. ³⁴ Not that I accept human testimony;^(G) but I mention it that you may be saved.^{(H) 35} John was a lamp that burned and gave light,^(I) and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

³⁶ “I have testimony weightier than that of John.^(J) For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing^(K)—testify that the Father has sent me.^{(L) 37} And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me.^(M) You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,^{(N) 38} nor does his word dwell in you,^(O) for you do not believe^(P) the one he sent.^{(Q) 39} You study^[a] the Scriptures^(R) diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.^(S) These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,^{(T) 40} yet you refuse to come to me^(U) to have life.

⁴¹ “I do not accept glory from human beings,^{(V) 42} but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. ⁴³ I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. ⁴⁴ How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God^[b]?^(W)

⁴⁵ “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses,^(X) on whom your hopes are set.^{(Y) 46} If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.^{(Z) 47} But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”^(AA)