⁹ not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.

^2 (A)The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. ³ The Lord ^(B)did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive.

²⁴ which things are symbolic. For these are ^[a]the two covenants: the one from Mount ^(A)Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—

³² not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that ^(A)I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, ^[a]though I was a husband to them, says the Lord.

^18 (A)Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. ¹⁹ For when Moses had spoken every ^[a]precept to all the people according to the law, ^(B)he took the blood of calves and goats, ^(C)with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, ^(D)“This is the ^(E)blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.”

The Changeless Promise^(A)

¹⁵ Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: ^(B)Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. ¹⁶ Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of ^(C)one, ^(D)“And to your Seed,” who is ^(E)Christ. ¹⁷ And this I say, that the law, ^(F)which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God ^[a]in Christ, ^(G)that it should make the promise of no effect. ¹⁸ For if ^(H)the inheritance is of the law, ^(I)it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Purpose of the Law

¹⁹ What purpose then does the law serve? ^(J)It was added because of transgressions, till the ^(K)Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ^(L)appointed through angels by the hand ^(M)of a mediator.

¹¹ And now, indeed, ^(A)the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”

And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

⁸ Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

²³ So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when ^(A)He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.