²⁵ Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock^(A) to their enemies. ²⁶ So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.

²⁷ Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’”^{(B) 28} The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. ²⁹ Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”

³⁰ The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin.^(C) But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement^(D) for your sin.”

³¹ So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed!^(E) They have made themselves gods of gold.^{(F) 32} But now, please forgive their sin^(G)—but if not, then blot me^(H) out of the book^(I) you have written.”

³³ The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out^(J) of my book. ³⁴ Now go, lead^(K) the people to the place^(L) I spoke of, and my angel^(M) will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish,^(N) I will punish them for their sin.”

³⁵ And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf^(O) Aaron had made.

33 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath^(P) to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’^{(Q) 2} I will send an angel^(R) before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.^{(S) 3} Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey.^(T) But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked^(U) people and I might destroy^(V) you on the way.”

⁴ When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn^(W) and no one put on any ornaments. ⁵ For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people.^(X) If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy^(Y) you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’” ⁶ So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.^(Z)

The Tent of Meeting

⁷ Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.”^(AA) Anyone inquiring^(AB) of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. ⁸ And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents,^(AC) watching Moses until he entered the tent. ⁹ As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud^(AD) would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke^(AE) with Moses. ¹⁰ Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent.^{(AF) 11} The Lord would speak to Moses face to face,^(AG) as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua^(AH) son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Moses and the Glory of the Lord

¹² Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’^(AI) but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name^(AJ) and you have found favor^(AK) with me.’ ¹³ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways^(AL) so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”^(AM)

¹⁴ The Lord replied, “My Presence^(AN) will go with you, and I will give you rest.”^(AO)

¹⁵ Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence^(AP) does not go with us, do not send us up from here. ¹⁶ How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?^(AQ) What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”^(AR)

¹⁷ And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked,^(AS) because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”^(AT)

¹⁸ Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”^(AU)

¹⁹ And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass^(AV) in front of you, and I will proclaim my name,^(AW) the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.^{(AX) 20} But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see^(AY) me and live.”

²¹ Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. ²² When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock^(AZ) and cover you with my hand^(BA) until I have passed by. ²³ Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

The New Stone Tablets

34 The Lord said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones,^(BB) and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets,^(BC) which you broke.^{(BD) 2} Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai.^(BE) Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. ³ No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain;^(BF) not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain.”

⁴ So Moses chiseled^(BG) out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands.^{(BH) 5} Then the Lord came down in the cloud^(BI) and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord.^{(BJ) 6} And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate^(BK) and gracious God, slow to anger,^(BL) abounding in love^(BM) and faithfulness,^{(BN) 7} maintaining love to thousands,^(BO) and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.^(BP) Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished;^(BQ) he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”^(BR)

⁸ Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. ⁹ “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor^(BS) in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us.^(BT) Although this is a stiff-necked^(BU) people, forgive our wickedness and our sin,^(BV) and take us as your inheritance.”^(BW)

Saying 20

Saying 21

Saying 22

Saying 23

Saying 24

Saying 25

Jesus Arrested^(A)

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, Judas,^(B) one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!”^(C) and kissed him.

⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”^[a](D)

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword,^(E) drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.^(F)

⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.^{(G) 53} Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?^{(H) 54} But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled^(I) that say it must happen in this way?”

⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching,^(J) and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”^(K) Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin^(L)

⁵⁷ Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas^(M) the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. ⁵⁸ But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest.^(N) He entered and sat down with the guards^(O) to see the outcome.

⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin^(P) were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. ⁶⁰ But they did not find any, though many false witnesses^(Q) came forward.

Finally two^(R) came forward ⁶¹ and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”^(S)

⁶² Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” ⁶³ But Jesus remained silent.^(T)

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath^(U) by the living God:^(V) Tell us if you are the Messiah,^(W) the Son of God.”^(X)

⁶⁴ “You have said so,”^(Y) Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One^(Z) and coming on the clouds of heaven.”^[b](AA)

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes^(AB) and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,”^(AC) they answered.

⁶⁷ Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists.^(AD) Others slapped him ⁶⁸ and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”^(AE)

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle^(A) and set apart^(B) for the gospel of God^(C)— ² the gospel he promised beforehand^(D) through his prophets^(E) in the Holy Scriptures^{(F) 3} regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life^[a](G) was a descendant of David,^{(H) 4} and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power^[b](I) by his resurrection from the dead:^(J) Jesus Christ our Lord.^{(K) 5} Through him we received grace^(L) and apostleship to call all the Gentiles^(M) to the obedience that comes from^[c] faith^(N) for his name’s sake. ⁶ And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.^(O)

⁷ To all in Rome who are loved by God^(P) and called to be his holy people:^(Q)

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.^(R)

Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome

⁸ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you,^(S) because your faith is being reported all over the world.^{(T) 9} God, whom I serve^(U) in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness^(V) how constantly I remember you ¹⁰ in my prayers at all times;^(W) and I pray that now at last by God’s will^(X) the way may be opened for me to come to you.^(Y)

¹¹ I long to see you^(Z) so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift^(AA) to make you strong— ¹² that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. ¹³ I do not want you to be unaware,^(AB) brothers and sisters,^[d](AC) that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now)^(AD) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

¹⁴ I am obligated^(AE) both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.^(AF)

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel,^(AG) because it is the power of God^(AH) that brings salvation to everyone who believes:^(AI) first to the Jew,^(AJ) then to the Gentile.^{(AK) 17} For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed^(AL)—a righteousness that is by faith^(AM) from first to last,^[e] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”^[f](AN)

God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity

¹⁸ The wrath of God^(AO) is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.^{(AP) 20} For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,^(AQ) so that people are without excuse.^(AR)

²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.^{(AS) 22} Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools^{(AT) 23} and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images^(AU) made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

²⁴ Therefore God gave them over^(AV) in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.^{(AW) 25} They exchanged the truth about God for a lie,^(AX) and worshiped and served created things^(AY) rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.^(AZ) Amen.^(BA)

²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over^(BB) to shameful lusts.^(BC) Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.^{(BD) 27} In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.^(BE)

²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over^(BF) to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,^{(BG) 30} slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;^{(BH) 31} they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love,^(BI) no mercy. ³² Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death,^(BJ) they not only continue to do these very things but also approve^(BK) of those who practice them.