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Service That Pleases God

13 Keep being concerned about each other as the Lord's followers should.

(A) Be sure to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some people have welcomed angels as guests, without even knowing it.

Remember the Lord's people who are in jail and be concerned for them. Don't forget those who are suffering, but imagine you are there with them.

(B) Have respect for marriage. Always be faithful to your partner, because God will punish anyone who is immoral or unfaithful in marriage.

(C) Don't fall in love with money. Be satisfied with what you have. The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us. (D) This should make you feel like saying,

“The Lord helps me!
Why should I be afraid
    of what people
    can do to me?”

Don't forget about your leaders who taught you God's message. Remember what kind of lives they lived and try to have faith like theirs.

Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Don't be fooled by any kind of strange teachings. It is better to receive strength from God's gift of undeserved grace than to depend on certain foods. After all, these foods don't really help the people who eat them. 10 But we have an altar where even the priests who serve in the place of worship have no right to eat.

11 (E) After the high priest offers the blood of animals as a sin offering, the bodies of those animals are burned outside the camp. 12 Jesus himself suffered outside the city gate, so his blood would make people holy. 13 This is why we should go outside the camp to Jesus and share in his disgrace. 14 On this earth we don't have a city that lasts forever, but we are waiting for such a city.

15 Our sacrifice is to keep offering praise to God in the name of Jesus. 16 But don't forget to help others and to share your possessions with them. This too is like offering a sacrifice that pleases God.

17 Obey your leaders and do what they say. They are watching over you, and they must answer to God. So don't make them sad as they do their work. Make them happy. Otherwise, they won't be able to help you at all.

18 Pray for us. Our consciences are clear, and we always try to live right. 19 I especially want you to pray that I can visit you again soon.

Final Prayers and Greetings

20 God gives peace, and he raised our Lord Jesus Christ from death. Now Jesus is like a Great Shepherd whose blood was used to make God's eternal agreement with his flock.[a] 21 (F) I pray God will make you ready to obey him and that you will always be eager to do right. May Jesus help you do what pleases God. To Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever! Amen.

22 My friends, I have written only a short letter to encourage you, and I beg you to pay close attention to what I have said.

23 By now you surely must know that our friend Timothy is out of jail. If he gets here in time, I will bring him with me when I come to visit you.

24 Please give my greetings to your leaders and to the rest of the Lord's people.

His followers from Italy send you their greetings.

25 I pray that God will be kind to all of you![b]

Footnotes

  1. 13.20 whose blood was used to make God's eternal agreement with his flock: See 9.18-22.
  2. 13.25 to all of you: Some manuscripts add “Amen.”

Jethro Visits Moses

18 Jethro was the priest of Midian and the father-in-law of Moses. He heard what the Lord God had done for Moses and his people, after rescuing them from Egypt.

2-4 (A) In the meantime, Moses had sent his wife Zipporah and her two sons to stay with Jethro, and he had welcomed them. Moses was still a foreigner in Midian when his first son was born, and so Moses said, “I'll name him Gershom.”[a]

When his second son was born, Moses said, “I'll name him Eliezer,[b] because the God my father worshiped has saved me from the king of Egypt.”[c]

5-6 While Israel was camped in the desert near Mount Sinai,[d] Jethro sent Moses this message: “I am coming to visit you, and I am bringing your wife and two sons.”

When they arrived, Moses went out and bowed down in front of Jethro, then kissed him. After they had greeted each other, they went into the tent, where Moses told him everything the Lord had done to protect Israel against the Egyptians and their king. He also told him how the Lord had helped them in all of their troubles.

Jethro was so pleased to hear this good news about what the Lord had done, 10 that he shouted, “Praise the Lord! He rescued you and the Israelites from the Egyptians and their king. 11 (B) Now I know that the Lord is the greatest God, because he has rescued Israel from their arrogant enemies.” 12 Jethro offered sacrifices to God. Then Aaron and Israel's leaders came to eat with Jethro there at the place of worship.

Judges Are Appointed

(Deuteronomy 1.9-18)

13 The next morning Moses sat down at the place where he decided legal cases for the people, and everyone crowded around him until evening. 14 Jethro saw how much Moses had to do for the people, and he asked, “Why are you the only judge? Why do you let these people crowd around you from morning till evening?”

15 Moses answered, “Because they come here to find out what God wants them to do. 16 They bring their complaints to me, and I make decisions on the basis of God's laws.”

17 Jethro replied:

That isn't the best way to do it. 18 You and the people who come to you will soon be worn out. The job is too much for one person; you can't do it alone. 19 God will help you if you follow my advice. You should be the one to speak to God for the people, 20 and you should teach them God's laws and show them what they must do to live right.

21 You will need to appoint some competent leaders who respect God and are trustworthy and honest. Then put them over groups of 10, 50, 100, and 1,000. 22 These judges can handle the ordinary cases and bring the more difficult ones to you. Having them to share the load will make your work easier. 23 This is the way God wants it done. You won't be under nearly as much stress, and everyone else will return home feeling satisfied.

24 Moses followed Jethro's advice. 25 He chose some competent leaders from every tribe in Israel and put them over groups of 10, 50, 100, and 1,000. 26 They served as judges, deciding the easy cases themselves, but bringing the more difficult ones to Moses.

27 After Moses and his father-in-law Jethro had said goodbye to each other, Jethro returned home.

At Mount Sinai

19 1-2 The Israelites left Rephidim[e] and arrived at the desert. Then two months after leaving Egypt, they arrived at the desert near Mount Sinai, where they set up camp at the foot of the mountain. This was two months after they had left Egypt.

Moses went up the mountain to meet with the Lord God, who told him to say to the people:

You saw what I did in Egypt, and you know how I brought you here to me, just as a mighty eagle carries its young. (C)(D) Now if you will faithfully obey me, you will be my very own people. The whole world is mine, (E) but you will be my holy nation and serve me as priests.

Moses, that is what you must tell the Israelites.

After Moses went back, he reported to the leaders what the Lord had said, and they all promised, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” So Moses told the Lord about this.

The Lord said to Moses, “I will come to you in a thick cloud and let the people hear me speak to you. Then they will always trust you.” Again Moses reported to the Lord what the people had said.

10 Once more the Lord spoke to Moses:

Go back and tell the people that today and tomorrow they must get themselves ready to meet me. They must wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the day after tomorrow, when I will come down to Mount Sinai, where all of them can see me.

12 (F) Warn the people that they are forbidden to touch any part of the mountain. Anyone who does will be put to death, 13 either with stones or arrows, and no one must touch the body of the person being put to death in this way. Even an animal that touches this mountain must be put to death. You may go up the mountain only after a signal is given on the trumpet.

14 After Moses went down the mountain, he gave orders for the people to wash their clothes and make themselves acceptable to worship God. 15 He told them to be ready in three days and not to have sex in the meantime.

The Lord Comes to Mount Sinai

16 (G)(H) On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud covered the mountain, a loud trumpet blast was heard, and everyone in camp trembled with fear. 17 Moses led them out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had come down in a flaming fire. Smoke poured out of the mountain just like a furnace, and the whole mountain shook. 19 The trumpet blew louder and louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with thunder.

20 The Lord came down to the top of Mount Sinai and told Moses to meet him there. 21 Then he said, “Moses, go and warn the people not to cross the boundary that you set at the foot of the mountain. They must not cross it to come and look at me, because if they do, many of them will die. 22 Only the priests may come near me, and they must obey strict rules before I let them. If they don't, they will be punished.”

23 Moses replied, “The people cannot come up the mountain. You warned us to stay away because it is holy.”

24 Then the Lord told Moses, “Go down and bring Aaron back here with you. But the priests and people must not try to push their way through, or I will rush at them like a flood!”

25 After Moses had gone back down, he told the people what the Lord had said.

Footnotes

  1. 18.2-4 Gershom: See the note at 2.22.
  2. 18.2-4 Eliezer: In Hebrew “Eliezer” means “God has helped me.”
  3. 18.2-4 saved … Egypt: See 2.1-15.
  4. 18.5,6 Mount Sinai: Hebrew “the mountain of God.”
  5. 19.1,2 Rephidim: See the note at 17.1.

In Praise of Wisdom

(A) With great understanding,
    Wisdom[a] is calling out
as she stands at the crossroads
    and on every hill.
She stands by the city gate
where everyone enters the city,
    and she shouts:
“I am calling out
    to each one of you!
Good sense and sound judgment
    can be yours.
Listen, because what I say
    is worthwhile and right.
I always speak the truth
    and refuse to tell a lie.
Every word I speak is honest,
not one is misleading
    or deceptive.

“If you have understanding,
you will see that my words
    are just what you need.
10 Let instruction and knowledge
mean more to you than silver
    or the finest gold.
11 (B) Wisdom is worth much more
than precious jewels
    or anything else you desire.”

Wisdom Speaks

12 I am Wisdom[b]—Common Sense
    is my closest friend;
I possess knowledge
    and sound judgment.
13 If you respect the Lord,
    you will hate evil.
I hate pride and conceit
    and deceitful lies.
14 I am strong, and I offer
sensible advice
    and sound judgment.
15 By my power kings govern,
and rulers make laws
    that are fair.
16 Every honest leader rules
    with help from me.

17 I love everyone who loves me,
and I will be found by all
    who honestly search.
18 I can make you rich and famous,
    important and successful.
19 What you receive from me
    is more valuable
than even the finest gold
    or the purest silver.
20 I always do what is right,
21 and I give great riches
    to everyone who loves me.

22 (C) From the beginning,
    I was with the Lord.[c]
I was there before he began
23     to create the earth.
At the very first,
    the Lord gave life to[d] me.
24 When I was born,
there were no oceans
    or springs of water.
25 My birth was before
mountains were formed
    or hills were put in place.
26 It happened long before God
    had made the earth
or any of its fields
    or even the dust.

27 (D) I was there when the Lord
    put the heavens in place
and stretched the sky
    over the surface of the sea.
28 I was with him when he placed
    the clouds in the sky
and created the springs
    that fill the ocean.
29 I was there when he set
boundaries for the sea
    to make it obey him,
and when he laid foundations
    to support the earth.

30 I was right beside the Lord,
    helping him plan and build.[e]
I made him happy each day,
    and I was happy at his side.
31 I was pleased with his world
    and pleased with its people.

32 (E) Pay attention, my children!
Follow my advice,
    and you will be happy.
33 Listen carefully
to my instructions,
    and you will be wise.

34 Come to my home each day
and listen to me.
    You will find happiness.
35 By finding me, you find life,
and the Lord will be pleased
    with you.
36 But if you don't find me,
    you hurt only yourself,
and if you hate me,
    you are in love with death.

Footnotes

  1. 8.1 Wisdom: See the note at 1.20.
  2. 8.12 Wisdom: See the note at 1.20.
  3. 8.22 From the beginning … with the Lord: Or “In the very beginning, the Lord created me.”
  4. 8.23 gave life to: Or “formed.”
  5. 8.30 helping … build: Or “like his own child.”

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