¹³ Then I heard a voice from heaven saying ^[a]to me, “Write: ^(A)‘Blessed are the dead ^(B)who die in the Lord from now on.’ ”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, ^(C)“that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow ^(D)them.”

^23 [a]For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a ^(A)desire to depart and be with Christ, which is ^(B)far better.

¹⁵ Now as for you, ^(A)you shall ^[a]go ^(B)to your fathers in peace; ^(C)you shall be buried at a good old age.

²⁶ And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not ^(A)see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

³⁰ And Israel said to Joseph, ^(A)“Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.”

Israel’s Futile Idolatry