God Leads the People

17 Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “(A)The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” 18 Therefore God led the people around by way of the wilderness to the [a]Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up (B)in battle formation from the land of Egypt. 19 And Moses took (C)the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will certainly [b]take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.” 20 Then they set out from (D)Succoth and camped in Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. 21 And (E)the Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they might [c]travel by day and by night. 22 [d]He (F)did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from the presence of the people.

Pharaoh in Pursuit

14 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp in front of (G)Pi-hahiroth, between (H)Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ And (I)I will [e]harden Pharaoh’s heart, and (J)he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and (K)the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, [f]Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this that we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he had horses harnessed to his chariot and took his people with him; and he took six hundred select chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. So (L)the Lord [g]hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out [h](M)boldly. Then (N)the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them camping by the sea, (O)beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the sons of Israel [i]looked, and behold, the Egyptians were coming after them, and they became very frightened; (P)so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 Then (Q)they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, [j]bringing us out of Egypt? 12 (R)Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘[k]Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!”

The Sea Is Divided

13 But Moses said to the people, “(S)Do not fear! [l]Stand by and see (T)the salvation of the Lord, which He will perform for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, ever. 14 (U)The Lord will fight for you, while (V)you keep silent.”

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 13:18 Lit Sea of Reeds
  2. Exodus 13:19 Lit visit
  3. Exodus 13:21 Lit go
  4. Exodus 13:22 Or The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart
  5. Exodus 14:4 Lit make strong
  6. Exodus 14:5 Lit the heart of Pharaoh...was changed
  7. Exodus 14:8 Lit made strong
  8. Exodus 14:8 Lit with a high hand
  9. Exodus 14:10 Lit lifted up their eyes
  10. Exodus 14:11 Lit so as to bring
  11. Exodus 14:12 Lit Cease from us
  12. Exodus 14:13 Or Take your stand

Crossing the Sea

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”(A) 18 So God led(B) the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.[a] The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.(C)

19 Moses took the bones of Joseph(D) with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.”[b](E)

20 After leaving Sukkoth(F) they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.(G) 21 By day the Lord went ahead(H) of them in a pillar of cloud(I) to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left(J) its place in front of the people.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol(K) and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon.(L) Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart,(M) and he will pursue them.(N) But I will gain glory(O) for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”(P) So the Israelites did this.

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled,(Q) Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds(R) about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. He took six hundred of the best chariots,(S) along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. The Lord hardened the heart(T) of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.(U) The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses(V) and chariots, horsemen[c] and troops(W)—pursued the Israelites and overtook(X) them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.(Y)

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried(Z) out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?(AA) What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”(AB)

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid.(AC) Stand firm and you will see(AD) the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see(AE) again. 14 The Lord will fight(AF) for you; you need only to be still.”(AG)

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 13:18 Or the Sea of Reeds
  2. Exodus 13:19 See Gen. 50:25.
  3. Exodus 14:9 Or charioteers; also in verses 17, 18, 23, 26 and 28

The Healing at Bethesda

After these things there was (A)a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now in Jerusalem, by (B)the Sheep Gate, there is a pool which (C)in [a]Hebrew is called [b]Bethesda, having five [c]porticoes. In these porticoes lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, limping, or [d]paralyzed.[e] Now a man was there who had been [f]ill for thirty-eight years. Jesus, upon seeing this man lying there and knowing that he had already been in that condition for a long time, *said to him, “Do you want to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus *said to him, (D)Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.

(E)Now it was a Sabbath on that day. 10 So (F)the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is a Sabbath, and (G)it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” 11 But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’ 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick it up and walk’?” 13 But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. 14 Afterward, Jesus *found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not (H)sin anymore, (I)so that nothing worse happens to you.” 15 The man went away, and informed (J)the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this reason (K)the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on a Sabbath. 17 But He answered them, “My Father [g]is working until now, and I Myself am working.”

Jesus’ Equality with God

18 For this reason therefore (L)the Jews (M)were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, (N)making Himself equal with God.

19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, (O)the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever [h]the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way. 20 (P)For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him (Q)greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and (R)gives them life, so (S)the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 For not even the Father judges anyone, but (T)He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. (U)The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

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Footnotes

  1. John 5:2 I.e., Jewish Aramaic
  2. John 5:2 Some early mss Bethsaida or Bethzatha
  3. John 5:2 Or colonnades (with roofs)
  4. John 5:3 Or had shrunken limbs
  5. John 5:3 Late mss add the following as the remainder of v 3, and v 4: paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first stepped in after the stirring up of the water was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted
  6. John 5:5 Lit in his sickness
  7. John 5:17 I.e., has been and continues
  8. John 5:19 Lit that One

The Healing at the Pool

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate(A) a pool, which in Aramaic(B) is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] [b] One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”(C) At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,(D) 10 and so the Jewish leaders(E) said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”(F)

11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’

12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”

13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning(G) or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders(H) that it was Jesus who had made him well.

The Authority of the Son

16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father(I) is always at his work(J) to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him;(K) not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.(L)

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself;(M) 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(N) and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these,(O) so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,(P) even so the Son gives life(Q) to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,(R) 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.(S)

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Footnotes

  1. John 5:2 Some manuscripts Bethzatha; other manuscripts Bethsaida
  2. John 5:4 Some manuscripts include here, wholly or in part, paralyzed—and they waited for the moving of the waters. From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. 16 As for you, lift up (A)your staff and reach out with your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall [a]go through the midst of the sea on dry land. 17 And as for Me, behold, (B)I will [b]harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 (C)Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots, and through his horsemen.”

19 Then (D)the angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud [c]along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Therefore the one did not approach the other all night.

21 (E)Then Moses reached out with his hand over the sea; and the Lord [d]swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into (F)dry land, and (G)the waters were divided. 22 So (H)the sons of Israel [e]went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and (I)the waters were like a wall to them on their right and on their left. 23 Then (J)the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea. 24 But at the morning watch, (K)the Lord looked down on the [f]army of the Egyptians [g]through the pillar of fire and cloud, and brought the [h]army of the Egyptians into confusion. 25 He [i]caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians each said, “Let me flee from Israel, (L)for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “(M)Reach out with your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.” 27 So Moses reached out with his hand over the sea, and (N)the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing [j]right into it; then the Lord [k](O)overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; (P)not even one of them remained. 29 But the sons of Israel walked on (Q)dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right and on their left.

30 (R)So the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel (S)saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great [l]power which the Lord had [m]used against the Egyptians, the people [n]feared the Lord, and (T)they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 14:16 Lit enter the
  2. Exodus 14:17 Lit make strong
  3. Exodus 14:20 Lit and the darkness
  4. Exodus 14:21 Lit caused to go
  5. Exodus 14:22 Lit entered the
  6. Exodus 14:24 Lit camp
  7. Exodus 14:24 Or in
  8. Exodus 14:24 Lit camp
  9. Exodus 14:25 Or removed
  10. Exodus 14:27 Lit to meet it
  11. Exodus 14:27 Lit shook off
  12. Exodus 14:31 Lit hand
  13. Exodus 14:31 Lit done
  14. Exodus 14:31 Or revered

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?(A) Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff(B) and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water(C) so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts(D) of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them.(E) And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord(F) when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

19 Then the angel of God,(G) who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud(H) also moved from in front and stood behind(I) them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness(J) to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand(K) over the sea,(L) and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind(M) and turned it into dry land.(N) The waters were divided,(O) 22 and the Israelites went through the sea(P) on dry ground,(Q) with a wall(R) of water on their right and on their left.

23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen(S) followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud(T) at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.(U) 25 He jammed[a] the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting(V) for them against Egypt.”(W)

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place.(X) The Egyptians were fleeing toward[b] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.(Y) 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea.(Z) Not one of them survived.(AA)

29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground,(AB) with a wall(AC) of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved(AD) Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand(AE) of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared(AF) the Lord and put their trust(AG) in him and in Moses his servant.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 14:25 See Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac; Masoretic Text removed
  2. Exodus 14:27 Or from

Unity of the Spirit

Therefore I, (A)the prisoner of the Lord, (B)urge you to (C)walk in a manner worthy of the (D)calling with which you have been (E)called, with all (F)humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another (G)in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the (H)bond of peace. There is (I)one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one (J)hope of your calling; (K)one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all (L)who is over all and through all and in all.

But (M)to each one of us (N)grace was given (O)according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore [a]it says,

(P)When He ascended on high,
He (Q)led captive the captives,
And He gave gifts to people.”

(Now this expression, “He (R)ascended,” what [b]does it mean except that He also [c]had descended into (S)the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended (T)far above all the heavens, so that He might (U)fill all things.) 11 And He (V)gave (W)some as apostles, some as prophets, some as (X)evangelists, some as [d]pastors and (Y)teachers, 12 (Z)for the equipping of the [e]saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of (AA)the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to (AB)the unity of the faith, and of the [f](AC)knowledge of the Son of God, to a (AD)mature man, to the measure of the stature [g]which belongs to the (AE)fullness of Christ. 14 [h]As a result, we are (AF)no longer to be children, (AG)tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by (AH)craftiness [i]in (AI)deceitful scheming; 15 but [j]speaking the truth (AJ)in love, [k]we are to (AK)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the (AL)head, that is, Christ, 16 from whom (AM)the whole body, being fitted and held together [l]by what every joint supplies, according to the [m]proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself (AN)in love.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:8 Or He
  2. Ephesians 4:9 Lit is it except
  3. Ephesians 4:9 One early ms had first descended
  4. Ephesians 4:11 From Gr for shepherds
  5. Ephesians 4:12 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  6. Ephesians 4:13 Or true knowledge
  7. Ephesians 4:13 Lit of the fullness
  8. Ephesians 4:14 Lit So that we will no longer be
  9. Ephesians 4:14 Lit with regard to the scheming of deceit
  10. Ephesians 4:15 Or holding to; or being truthful in
  11. Ephesians 4:15 Or let’s grow up
  12. Ephesians 4:16 Lit through every joint of the supply
  13. Ephesians 4:16 Lit working in measure

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

As a prisoner(A) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy(B) of the calling(C) you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another(D) in love.(E) Make every effort to keep the unity(F) of the Spirit through the bond of peace.(G) There is one body(H) and one Spirit,(I) just as you were called to one hope when you were called(J); one Lord,(K) one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all,(L) who is over all and through all and in all.(M)

But to each one of us(N) grace(O) has been given(P) as Christ apportioned it. This is why it[a] says:

“When he ascended on high,
    he took many captives(Q)
    and gave gifts to his people.”[b](R)

(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended(S) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)(T) 11 So Christ himself gave(U) the apostles,(V) the prophets,(W) the evangelists,(X) the pastors and teachers,(Y) 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ(Z) may be built up(AA) 13 until we all reach unity(AB) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God(AC) and become mature,(AD) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.(AE)

14 Then we will no longer be infants,(AF) tossed back and forth by the waves,(AG) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.(AH) 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love,(AI) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,(AJ) that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows(AK) and builds itself up(AL) in love,(AM) as each part does its work.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:8 Or God
  2. Ephesians 4:8 Psalm 68:18
  3. Ephesians 4:9 Or the depths of the earth