Font Size
Judges 17-18
New King James Version
Judges 17-18
New King James Version
Micah’s Idolatry
17 Now there was a man from the mountains of Ephraim, whose name was (A)Micah. 2 And he said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you, and on which you (B)put a curse, even saying it in my ears—here is the silver with me; I took it.”
And his mother said, (C)“May you be blessed by the Lord, my son!” 3 So when he had returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, “I had wholly dedicated the silver from my hand to the Lord for my son, to (D)make a carved image and a molded image; now therefore, I will return it to you.” 4 Thus he returned the silver to his mother. Then his mother (E)took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to the silversmith, and he made it into a carved image and a molded image; and they were in the house of Micah.
5 The man Micah had a (F)shrine, and made an (G)ephod and (H)household[a] idols; and he consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. 6 (I)In those days there was no king in Israel; (J)everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
7 Now there was a young man from (K)Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah; he was a Levite, and (L)was staying there. 8 The man departed from the city of Bethlehem in Judah to stay wherever he could find a place. Then he came to the mountains of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, as he journeyed. 9 And Micah said to him, “Where do you come from?”
So he said to him, “I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I am on my way to find a place to stay.”
10 Micah said to him, “Dwell with me, (M)and be a (N)father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten shekels of silver per year, a suit of clothes, and your sustenance.” So the Levite went in. 11 Then the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man became like one of his sons to him. 12 So Micah (O)consecrated[b] the Levite, and the young man (P)became his priest, and lived in the house of Micah. 13 Then Micah said, “Now I know that the Lord will be good to me, since I have a Levite as (Q)priest!”
The Danites Adopt Micah’s Idolatry
18 In (R)those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days (S)the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance for itself to dwell in; for until that day their inheritance among the tribes of Israel had not fallen to them. 2 So the children of Dan sent five men of their family from their territory, men of valor from (T)Zorah and Eshtaol, (U)to spy out the land and search it. They said to them, “Go, search the land.” So they went to the mountains of Ephraim, to the (V)house of Micah, and lodged there. 3 While they were at the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. They turned aside and said to him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What do you have here?”
4 He said to them, “Thus and so Micah did for me. He has (W)hired me, and I have become his priest.”
5 So they said to him, “Please (X)inquire (Y)of God, that we may know whether the journey on which we go will be prosperous.”
6 And the priest said to them, (Z)“Go in peace. [c]The presence of the Lord be with you on your way.”
7 So the five men departed and went to (AA)Laish. They saw the people who were there, (AB)how they dwelt safely, in the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure. There were no rulers in the land who might put them to shame for anything. They were far from the (AC)Sidonians, and they had no ties [d]with anyone.
8 Then the spies came back to their brethren at (AD)Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brethren said to them, “What is your report?”
9 So they said, (AE)“Arise, let us go up against them. For we have seen the land, and indeed it is very good. Would you (AF)do nothing? Do not hesitate to go, and enter to possess the land. 10 When you go, you will come to a (AG)secure people and a large land. For God has given it into your hands, (AH)a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth.”
11 And six hundred men of the family of the Danites went from there, from Zorah and Eshtaol, armed with weapons of war. 12 Then they went up and encamped in (AI)Kirjath Jearim in Judah. (Therefore they call that place (AJ)Mahaneh Dan[e] to this day. There it is, west of Kirjath Jearim.) 13 And they passed from there to the mountains of Ephraim, and came to (AK)the house of Micah.
14 (AL)Then the five men who had gone to spy out the country of Laish answered and said to their brethren, “Do you know that (AM)there are in these houses an ephod, household idols, a carved image, and a molded image? Now therefore, consider what you should do.” 15 So they turned aside there, and came to the house of the young Levite man—to the house of Micah—and greeted him. 16 The (AN)six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate. 17 Then (AO)the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up. Entering there, they took (AP)the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molded image. The priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men who were armed with weapons of war.
18 When these went into Micah’s house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molded image, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”
19 And they said to him, “Be quiet, (AQ)put your hand over your mouth, and come with us; (AR)be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest to the household of one man, or that you be a priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?” 20 So the priest’s heart was glad; and he took the ephod, the household idols, and the carved image, and took his place among the people.
21 Then they turned and departed, and put the little ones, the livestock, and the goods in front of them. 22 When they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah’s house gathered together and overtook the children of Dan. 23 And they called out to the children of Dan. So they turned around and said to Micah, (AS)“What ails you, that you have gathered such a company?”
24 So he said, “You have (AT)taken away my [f]gods which I made, and the priest, and you have gone away. Now what more do I have? How can you say to me, ‘What ails you?’ ”
25 And the children of Dan said to him, “Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest [g]angry men fall upon you, and you lose your life, with the lives of your household!” 26 Then the children of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.
Danites Settle in Laish
27 So they took the things Micah had made, and the priest who had belonged to him, and went to Laish, to a people quiet and secure; (AU)and they struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire. 28 There was no deliverer, because it was (AV)far from Sidon, and they had no ties with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs (AW)to Beth Rehob. So they rebuilt the city and dwelt there. 29 And (AX)they called the name of the city (AY)Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel. However, the name of the city formerly was Laish.
30 Then the children of Dan set up for themselves the carved image; and Jonathan the son of Gershom, the son of [h]Manasseh, and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan (AZ)until the day of the captivity of the land. 31 So they set up for themselves Micah’s carved image which he made, (BA)all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
Footnotes
- Judges 17:5 Heb. teraphim
- Judges 17:12 Lit. filled the hand of
- Judges 18:6 Lit. The Lord is before the way in which you go
- Judges 18:7 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX with Syria
- Judges 18:12 Lit. Camp of Dan
- Judges 18:24 idols
- Judges 18:25 Lit. bitter of soul
- Judges 18:30 LXX, Vg. Moses
Judges 17-18
New International Version
Judges 17-18
New International Version
Micah’s Idols
17 Now a man named Micah(A) from the hill country of Ephraim 2 said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels[a] of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse—I have that silver with me; I took it.”
Then his mother said, “The Lord bless you,(B) my son!”
3 When he returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, “I solemnly consecrate my silver to the Lord for my son to make an image overlaid with silver.(C) I will give it back to you.”
4 So after he returned the silver to his mother, she took two hundred shekels[b] of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who used them to make the idol.(D) And it was put in Micah’s house.
5 Now this man Micah had a shrine,(E) and he made an ephod(F) and some household gods(G) and installed(H) one of his sons as his priest.(I) 6 In those days Israel had no king;(J) everyone did as they saw fit.(K)
7 A young Levite(L) from Bethlehem in Judah,(M) who had been living within the clan of Judah, 8 left that town in search of some other place to stay. On his way[c] he came to Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim.
9 Micah asked him, “Where are you from?”
“I’m a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah,(N)” he said, “and I’m looking for a place to stay.”
10 Then Micah said to him, “Live with me and be my father(O) and priest,(P) and I’ll give you ten shekels[d] of silver a year, your clothes and your food.” 11 So the Levite agreed to live with him, and the young man became like one of his sons to him. 12 Then Micah installed(Q) the Levite, and the young man became his priest(R) and lived in his house. 13 And Micah said, “Now I know that the Lord will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest.”(S)
The Danites Settle in Laish
18 In those days Israel had no king.(T)
And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking a place of their own where they might settle, because they had not yet come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.(U) 2 So the Danites(V) sent five of their leading men(W) from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out(X) the land and explore it. These men represented all the Danites. They told them, “Go, explore the land.”(Y)
So they entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah,(Z) where they spent the night. 3 When they were near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite;(AA) so they turned in there and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?”
4 He told them what Micah had done for him, and said, “He has hired me and I am his priest.(AB)”
5 Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God(AC) to learn whether our journey will be successful.”
6 The priest answered them, “Go in peace(AD). Your journey has the Lord’s approval.”
7 So the five men(AE) left and came to Laish,(AF) where they saw that the people were living in safety, like the Sidonians, at peace and secure.(AG) And since their land lacked nothing, they were prosperous.[e] Also, they lived a long way from the Sidonians(AH) and had no relationship with anyone else.[f]
8 When they returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their fellow Danites asked them, “How did you find things?”
9 They answered, “Come on, let’s attack them! We have seen the land, and it is very good. Aren’t you going to do something? Don’t hesitate to go there and take it over.(AI) 10 When you get there, you will find an unsuspecting people and a spacious land that God has put into your hands, a land that lacks nothing(AJ) whatever.(AK)”
11 Then six hundred men(AL) of the Danites,(AM) armed for battle, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol. 12 On their way they set up camp near Kiriath Jearim(AN) in Judah. This is why the place west of Kiriath Jearim is called Mahaneh Dan[g](AO) to this day. 13 From there they went on to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah’s house.(AP)
14 Then the five men who had spied out the land of Laish(AQ) said to their fellow Danites, “Do you know that one of these houses has an ephod,(AR) some household gods and an image overlaid with silver?(AS) Now you know what to do.” 15 So they turned in there and went to the house of the young Levite at Micah’s place and greeted him. 16 The six hundred Danites,(AT) armed for battle, stood at the entrance of the gate. 17 The five men who had spied out the land went inside and took the idol, the ephod and the household gods(AU) while the priest and the six hundred armed men(AV) stood at the entrance of the gate.
18 When the five men went into Micah’s house and took(AW) the idol, the ephod and the household gods,(AX) the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”
19 They answered him, “Be quiet!(AY) Don’t say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest.(AZ) Isn’t it better that you serve a tribe and clan(BA) in Israel as priest rather than just one man’s household?” 20 The priest was very pleased. He took the ephod, the household gods and the idol and went along with the people. 21 Putting their little children, their livestock and their possessions in front of them, they turned away and left.
22 When they had gone some distance from Micah’s house, the men who lived near Micah were called together and overtook the Danites. 23 As they shouted after them, the Danites turned and said to Micah, “What’s the matter with you that you called out your men to fight?”
24 He replied, “You took(BB) the gods I made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you ask, ‘What’s the matter with you?’”
25 The Danites answered, “Don’t argue with us, or some of the men may get angry and attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.” 26 So the Danites went their way, and Micah, seeing that they were too strong for him,(BC) turned around and went back home.
27 Then they took what Micah had made, and his priest, and went on to Laish, against a people at peace and secure.(BD) They attacked them with the sword and burned(BE) down their city.(BF) 28 There was no one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon(BG) and had no relationship with anyone else. The city was in a valley near Beth Rehob.(BH)
The Danites rebuilt the city and settled there. 29 They named it Dan(BI) after their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel—though the city used to be called Laish.(BJ) 30 There the Danites set up for themselves the idol, and Jonathan son of Gershom,(BK) the son of Moses,[h] and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land. 31 They continued to use the idol Micah had made,(BL) all the time the house of God(BM) was in Shiloh.(BN)
Footnotes
- Judges 17:2 That is, about 28 pounds or about 13 kilograms
- Judges 17:4 That is, about 5 pounds or about 2.3 kilograms
- Judges 17:8 Or To carry on his profession
- Judges 17:10 That is, about 4 ounces or about 115 grams
- Judges 18:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
- Judges 18:7 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts with the Arameans
- Judges 18:12 Mahaneh Dan means Dan’s camp.
- Judges 18:30 Many Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate; many other Hebrew manuscripts and some other Septuagint manuscripts Manasseh
Psalm 89
New King James Version
Psalm 89
New King James Version
Remembering the Covenant with David, and Sorrow for Lost Blessings
A [a]Contemplation of (A)Ethan the Ezrahite.
89 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;
With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever;
(B)Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.”
3 “I(C) have made a covenant with My chosen,
I have (D)sworn to My servant David:
4 ‘Your seed I will establish forever,
And build up your throne (E)to all generations.’ ” Selah
5 And (F)the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord;
Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.
6 (G)For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord?
Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord?
7 (H)God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints,
And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.
8 O Lord God of hosts,
Who is mighty like You, O Lord?
Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
9 (I)You rule the raging of the sea;
When its waves rise, You still them.
10 (J)You have broken [b]Rahab in pieces, as one who is slain;
You have scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.
11 (K)The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The world and all its fullness, You have founded them.
12 The north and the south, You have created them;
(L)Tabor and (M)Hermon rejoice in Your name.
13 You have a mighty arm;
Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Mercy and truth go before Your face.
15 Blessed are the people who know the (N)joyful sound!
They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.
16 In Your name they rejoice all day long,
And in Your righteousness they are exalted.
17 For You are the glory of their strength,
And in Your favor our [c]horn is (O)exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to the Lord,
And our king to the Holy One of Israel.
19 Then You spoke in a vision to Your [d]holy one,
And said: “I have given help to one who is mighty;
I have exalted one (P)chosen from the people.
20 (Q)I have found My servant David;
With My holy oil I have anointed him,
21 (R)With whom My hand shall be established;
Also My arm shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not [e]outwit him,
Nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
23 I will beat down his foes before his face,
And plague those who hate him.
24 “But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him,
And in My name his horn shall be exalted.
25 Also I will (S)set his hand over the sea,
And his right hand over the rivers.
26 He shall cry to Me, ‘You are (T)my Father,
My God, and (U)the rock of my salvation.’
27 Also I will make him (V)My firstborn,
(W)The highest of the kings of the earth.
28 (X)My mercy I will keep for him forever,
And My covenant shall stand firm with him.
29 His seed also I will make to endure forever,
(Y)And his throne (Z)as the days of heaven.
30 “If(AA) his sons (AB)forsake My law
And do not walk in My judgments,
31 If they [f]break My statutes
And do not keep My commandments,
32 Then I will punish their transgression with the rod,
And their iniquity with stripes.
33 (AC)Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not [g]utterly take from him,
Nor [h]allow My faithfulness to fail.
34 My covenant I will not break,
Nor (AD)alter the word that has gone out of My lips.
35 Once I have sworn (AE)by My holiness;
I will not lie to David:
36 (AF)His seed shall endure forever,
And his throne (AG)as the sun before Me;
37 It shall be established forever like the moon,
Even like the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah
38 But You have (AH)cast off and (AI)abhorred,[i]
You have been furious with Your [j]anointed.
39 You have renounced the covenant of Your servant;
(AJ)You have [k]profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.
40 You have broken down all his hedges;
You have brought his [l]strongholds to ruin.
41 All who pass by the way (AK)plunder him;
He is a reproach to his neighbors.
42 You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries;
You have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 You have also turned back the edge of his sword,
And have not sustained him in the battle.
44 You have made his [m]glory cease,
And cast his throne down to the ground.
45 The days of his youth You have shortened;
You have covered him with shame. Selah
46 How long, Lord?
Will You hide Yourself forever?
Will Your wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember how short my time (AL)is;
For what (AM)futility have You created all the children of men?
48 What man can live and not [n]see (AN)death?
Can he deliver his life from the power of [o]the grave? Selah
49 Lord, where are Your former lovingkindnesses,
Which You (AO)swore to David (AP)in Your truth?
50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of Your servants—
(AQ)How I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples,
51 (AR)With which Your enemies have reproached, O Lord,
With which they have reproached the footsteps of Your [p]anointed.
52 (AS)Blessed be the Lord forevermore!
Amen and Amen.
Footnotes
- Psalm 89:1 Heb. Maschil
- Psalm 89:10 Egypt
- Psalm 89:17 Strength
- Psalm 89:19 So with many Heb. mss.; MT, LXX, Tg., Vg. holy ones
- Psalm 89:22 Or exact usury from him
- Psalm 89:31 profane
- Psalm 89:33 Lit. break off
- Psalm 89:33 Lit. deal falsely with My faithfulness
- Psalm 89:38 rejected
- Psalm 89:38 Commissioned one, Heb. messiah
- Psalm 89:39 defiled
- Psalm 89:40 fortresses
- Psalm 89:44 splendor or brightness
- Psalm 89:48 experience death
- Psalm 89:48 Or Sheol
- Psalm 89:51 Commissioned one, Heb. messiah
Psalm 89
New International Version
Psalm 89
New International Version
Psalm 89[a]
A maskil[b] of Ethan the Ezrahite.
1 I will sing(A) of the Lord’s great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known(B)
through all generations.
2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.(C)
3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant,
4 ‘I will establish your line forever
and make your throne firm through all generations.’”[c](D)
5 The heavens(E) praise your wonders, Lord,
your faithfulness too, in the assembly(F) of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?(G)
7 In the council(H) of the holy ones(I) God is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him.(J)
8 Who is like you,(K) Lord God Almighty?(L)
You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
9 You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them.(M)
10 You crushed Rahab(N) like one of the slain;
with your strong arm you scattered(O) your enemies.
11 The heavens are yours,(P) and yours also the earth;(Q)
you founded the world and all that is in it.(R)
12 You created the north and the south;
Tabor(S) and Hermon(T) sing for joy(U) at your name.
13 Your arm is endowed with power;
your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.(V)
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;(W)
love and faithfulness go before you.(X)
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk(Y) in the light(Z) of your presence, Lord.
16 They rejoice in your name(AA) all day long;
they celebrate your righteousness.
17 For you are their glory and strength,(AB)
and by your favor you exalt our horn.[d](AC)
18 Indeed, our shield[e](AD) belongs to the Lord,
our king(AE) to the Holy One of Israel.
19 Once you spoke in a vision,
to your faithful people you said:
“I have bestowed strength on a warrior;
I have raised up a young man from among the people.
20 I have found David(AF) my servant;(AG)
with my sacred oil(AH) I have anointed(AI) him.
21 My hand will sustain him;
surely my arm will strengthen him.(AJ)
22 The enemy will not get the better of him;(AK)
the wicked will not oppress(AL) him.
23 I will crush his foes before him(AM)
and strike down his adversaries.(AN)
24 My faithful love will be with him,(AO)
and through my name his horn[f] will be exalted.
25 I will set his hand over the sea,
his right hand over the rivers.(AP)
26 He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father,(AQ)
my God, the Rock(AR) my Savior.’(AS)
27 And I will appoint him to be my firstborn,(AT)
the most exalted(AU) of the kings(AV) of the earth.
28 I will maintain my love to him forever,
and my covenant with him will never fail.(AW)
29 I will establish his line forever,
his throne as long as the heavens endure.(AX)
30 “If his sons forsake my law
and do not follow my statutes,
31 if they violate my decrees
and fail to keep my commands,
32 I will punish their sin with the rod,
their iniquity with flogging;(AY)
33 but I will not take my love from him,(AZ)
nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
34 I will not violate my covenant
or alter what my lips have uttered.(BA)
35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—
and I will not lie to David—
36 that his line will continue forever
and his throne endure before me like the sun;(BB)
37 it will be established forever like the moon,
the faithful witness in the sky.”(BC)
38 But you have rejected,(BD) you have spurned,
you have been very angry with your anointed one.
39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant
and have defiled his crown in the dust.(BE)
40 You have broken through all his walls(BF)
and reduced his strongholds(BG) to ruins.
41 All who pass by have plundered(BH) him;
he has become the scorn of his neighbors.(BI)
42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.(BJ)
43 Indeed, you have turned back the edge of his sword
and have not supported him in battle.(BK)
44 You have put an end to his splendor
and cast his throne to the ground.
45 You have cut short(BL) the days of his youth;
you have covered him with a mantle of shame.(BM)
46 How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?
How long will your wrath burn like fire?(BN)
47 Remember how fleeting is my life.(BO)
For what futility you have created all humanity!
48 Who can live and not see death,
or who can escape the power of the grave?(BP)
49 Lord, where is your former great love,
which in your faithfulness you swore to David?
50 Remember, Lord, how your servant has[g] been mocked,(BQ)
how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,
51 the taunts with which your enemies, Lord, have mocked,
with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.(BR)
52 Praise be to the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen.(BS)
Footnotes
- Psalm 89:1 In Hebrew texts 89:1-52 is numbered 89:2-53.
- Psalm 89:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 89:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 37, 45 and 48.
- Psalm 89:17 Horn here symbolizes strong one.
- Psalm 89:18 Or sovereign
- Psalm 89:24 Horn here symbolizes strength.
- Psalm 89:50 Or your servants have
2 Corinthians 3
New King James Version
2 Corinthians 3
New King James Version
Christ’s Epistle(A)
3 Do (B)we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, (C)epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 2 (D)You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, (E)ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not (F)on tablets of stone but (G)on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
The Spirit, Not the Letter
4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 (H)Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but (I)our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as (J)ministers of (K)the new covenant, not (L)of the letter but of the [a]Spirit; for (M)the letter kills, (N)but the Spirit gives life.
Glory of the New Covenant
7 But if (O)the ministry of death, (P)written and engraved on stones, was glorious, (Q)so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will (R)the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry (S)of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
12 Therefore, since we have such hope, (T)we use great boldness of speech— 13 unlike Moses, (U)who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at (V)the end of what was passing away. 14 But (W)their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless (X)when one turns to the Lord, (Y)the veil is taken away. 17 Now (Z)the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is (AA)liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding (AB)as in a mirror (AC)the glory of the Lord, (AD)are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as [b]by the Spirit of the Lord.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 3:6 Or spirit
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 Or from the Lord, the Spirit
2 Corinthians 3
New International Version
2 Corinthians 3
New International Version
3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves(A) again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation(B) to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.(C) 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God,(D) not on tablets of stone(E) but on tablets of human hearts.(F)
4 Such confidence(G) we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves(H) to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.(I) 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant(J)—not of the letter(K) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.(L)
The Greater Glory of the New Covenant
7 Now if the ministry that brought death,(M) which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory,(N) transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation(O) was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!(P) 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
12 Therefore, since we have such a hope,(Q) we are very bold.(R) 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face(S) to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull,(T) for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant(U) is read.(V) It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord,(W) the veil is taken away.(X) 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit,(Y) and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.(Z) 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a](AA) the Lord’s glory,(AB) are being transformed into his image(AC) with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 Or reflect
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.