17 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

18 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land whither I bring you,

19 Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the Lord.

20 Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it.

21 Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the Lord an heave offering in your generations.

22 And if ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the Lord hath spoken unto Moses,

23 Even all that the Lord hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the Lord commanded Moses, and henceforward among your generations;

24 Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the Lord, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.

25 And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord, for their ignorance:

26 And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance.

27 And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.

28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the Lord, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.

29 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.

30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

31 Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.

32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.

33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.

34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

35 And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.

36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses.

37 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:

39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them ; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:

40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.

41 I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.

16 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:

And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?

And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:

And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the Lord will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.

This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;

And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.

And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:

Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?

11 For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:

13 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?

14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.

15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

16 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:

17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the Lord every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.

18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.

19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation.

20 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

23 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of their's, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.

28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.

29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the Lord hath not sent me.

30 But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord.

31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.

35 And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

36 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

37 Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed.

38 The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the Lord, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.

39 And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:

40 To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the Lord; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the Lord said to him by the hand of Moses.

17 The Lord said to Moses, 18 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land to which I am taking you(A) 19 and you eat the food of the land,(B) present a portion as an offering to the Lord.(C) 20 Present a loaf from the first of your ground meal(D) and present it as an offering from the threshing floor.(E) 21 Throughout the generations to come(F) you are to give this offering to the Lord from the first of your ground meal.(G)

Offerings for Unintentional Sins

22 “‘Now if you as a community unintentionally fail to keep any of these commands the Lord gave Moses(H) 23 any of the Lord’s commands to you through him, from the day the Lord gave them and continuing through the generations to come(I) 24 and if this is done unintentionally(J) without the community being aware of it,(K) then the whole community is to offer a young bull for a burnt offering(L) as an aroma pleasing to the Lord,(M) along with its prescribed grain offering(N) and drink offering,(O) and a male goat for a sin offering.[a](P) 25 The priest is to make atonement for the whole Israelite community, and they will be forgiven,(Q) for it was not intentional(R) and they have presented to the Lord for their wrong a food offering(S) and a sin offering.(T) 26 The whole Israelite community and the foreigners residing among them will be forgiven, because all the people were involved in the unintentional wrong.(U)

27 “‘But if just one person sins unintentionally,(V) that person must bring a year-old female goat for a sin offering.(W) 28 The priest is to make atonement(X) before the Lord for the one who erred by sinning unintentionally, and when atonement has been made, that person will be forgiven.(Y) 29 One and the same law applies to everyone who sins unintentionally, whether a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you.(Z)

30 “‘But anyone who sins defiantly,(AA) whether native-born or foreigner,(AB) blasphemes the Lord(AC) and must be cut off from the people of Israel.(AD) 31 Because they have despised(AE) the Lord’s word and broken his commands,(AF) they must surely be cut off; their guilt remains on them.(AG)’”

The Sabbath-Breaker Put to Death

32 While the Israelites were in the wilderness,(AH) a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day.(AI) 33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, 34 and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him.(AJ) 35 Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must die.(AK) The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.(AL) 36 So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him(AM) to death,(AN) as the Lord commanded Moses.(AO)

Tassels on Garments

37 The Lord said to Moses, 38 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come(AP) you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments,(AQ) with a blue cord on each tassel. 39 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember(AR) all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves(AS) by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts(AT) and eyes. 40 Then you will remember to obey all my commands(AU) and will be consecrated to your God.(AV) 41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God.(AW) I am the Lord your God.(AX)’”

Korah, Dathan and Abiram

16 Korah(AY) son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram(AZ), sons of Eliab,(BA) and On son of Peleth—became insolent[b] and rose up against Moses.(BB) With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council.(BC) They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron(BD) and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy,(BE) every one of them, and the Lord is with them.(BF) Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”(BG)

When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.(BH) Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy,(BI) and he will have that person come near him.(BJ) The man he chooses(BK) he will cause to come near him. You, Korah, and all your followers(BL) are to do this: Take censers(BM) and tomorrow put burning coals(BN) and incense(BO) in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses(BP) will be the one who is holy.(BQ) You Levites have gone too far!”

Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! Isn’t it enough(BR) for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them?(BS) 10 He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too.(BT) 11 It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble(BU) against him?(BV)

12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram,(BW) the sons of Eliab. But they said, “We will not come!(BX) 13 Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey(BY) to kill us in the wilderness?(BZ) And now you also want to lord it over us!(CA) 14 Moreover, you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey(CB) or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards.(CC) Do you want to treat these men like slaves[c]?(CD) No, we will not come!(CE)

15 Then Moses became very angry(CF) and said to the Lord, “Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey(CG) from them, nor have I wronged any of them.”

16 Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the Lord tomorrow—you and they and Aaron.(CH) 17 Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it—250 censers in all—and present it before the Lord. You and Aaron are to present your censers also.(CI) 18 So each of them took his censer,(CJ) put burning coals and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19 When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them(CK) at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of the Lord(CL) appeared to the entire assembly. 20 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 21 “Separate yourselves(CM) from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.”(CN)

22 But Moses and Aaron fell facedown(CO) and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things,(CP) will you be angry with the entire assembly(CQ) when only one man sins?”(CR)

23 Then the Lord said to Moses, 24 “Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’”

25 Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel(CS) followed him. 26 He warned the assembly, “Move back from the tents of these wicked men!(CT) Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away(CU) because of all their sins.(CV) 27 So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.(CW) Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children(CX) and little ones at the entrances to their tents.(CY)

28 Then Moses said, “This is how you will know(CZ) that the Lord has sent me(DA) to do all these things and that it was not my idea: 29 If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me.(DB) 30 But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth(DC) and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead,(DD) then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.(DE)

31 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart(DF) 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them(DG) and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. 33 They went down alive into the realm of the dead,(DH) with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. 34 At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!”

35 And fire came out from the Lord(DI) and consumed(DJ) the 250 men who were offering the incense.

36 The Lord said to Moses, 37 “Tell Eleazar(DK) son of Aaron, the priest, to remove the censers(DL) from the charred remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy— 38 the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives.(DM) Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar,(DN) for they were presented before the Lord and have become holy. Let them be a sign(DO) to the Israelites.”

39 So Eleazar the priest(DP) collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned to death,(DQ) and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, 40 as the Lord directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense(DR) before the Lord,(DS) or he would become like Korah and his followers.(DT)

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 15:24 Or purification offering; also in verses 25 and 27
  2. Numbers 16:1 Or Peleth—took men
  3. Numbers 16:14 Or to deceive these men; Hebrew Will you gouge out the eyes of these men

17 Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 18 (A)“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land to which I bring you, 19 then it will be, when you eat of (B)the bread of the land, that you shall offer up a heave offering to the Lord. 20 (C)You shall offer up a cake of the first of your ground meal as a heave offering; as (D)a heave offering of the threshing floor, so shall you offer it up. 21 Of the first of your ground meal you shall give to the Lord a heave offering throughout your generations.

Laws Concerning Unintentional Sin

22 (E)‘If you sin unintentionally, and do not observe all these commandments which the Lord has spoken to Moses— 23 all that the Lord has commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day the Lord gave commandment and onward throughout your generations— 24 then it will be, (F)if it is unintentionally committed, [a]without the knowledge of the congregation, that the whole congregation shall offer one young bull as a burnt offering, as a sweet aroma to the Lord, (G)with its grain offering and its drink offering, according to the ordinance, and (H)one kid of the goats as a sin offering. 25 (I)So the priest shall make atonement for the whole congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them, for it was unintentional; they shall bring their offering, an offering made by fire to the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord, for their unintended sin. 26 It shall be forgiven the whole congregation of the children of Israel and the stranger who dwells among them, because all the people did it unintentionally.

27 ‘And (J)if a person sins unintentionally, then he shall bring a female goat in its first year as a sin offering. 28 (K)So the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before the Lord, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. 29 (L)You shall have one law for him who sins unintentionally, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwells among them.

Law Concerning Presumptuous Sin

30 (M)‘But the person who does anything [b]presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one [c]brings reproach on the Lord, and he shall be [d]cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has (N)despised the word of the Lord, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his [e]guilt shall be upon him.’ ”

Penalty for Violating the Sabbath(O)

32 Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, (P)they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. 34 They put him (Q)under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to him.

35 Then the Lord said to Moses, (R)“The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall (S)stone him with stones outside the camp.” 36 So, as the Lord commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died.

Tassels on Garments

37 Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 38 “Speak to the children of Israel: Tell (T)them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. 39 And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and (U)remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, and that you (V)may not (W)follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, 40 and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be (X)holy for your God. 41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.”

Rebellion Against Moses and Aaron

16 Now (Y)Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with (Z)Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, (AA)representatives of the congregation, men of renown. (AB)They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You [f]take too much upon yourselves, for (AC)all the congregation is holy, every one of them, (AD)and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”

So when Moses heard it, he (AE)fell on his face; and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is (AF)His and who is (AG)holy,[g] and will cause him to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses He will cause to (AH)come near to Him. Do this: Take censers, Korah and all your company; put fire in them and put incense in them before the Lord tomorrow, and it shall be that the man whom the Lord chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!”

Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi: Is it (AI)a small thing to you that the God of Israel has (AJ)separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to serve them; 10 and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking the priesthood also? 11 Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord. (AK)And what is Aaron that you complain against him?”

12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come up! 13 Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of (AL)a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you should (AM)keep acting like a prince over us? 14 Moreover (AN)you have not brought us into (AO)a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!”

15 Then Moses was very angry, and said to the Lord, (AP)“Do not [h]respect their offering. (AQ)I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I hurt one of them.”

16 And Moses said to Korah, “Tomorrow, you and all your company be present (AR)before the Lord—you and they, as well as Aaron. 17 Let each take his censer and put incense in it, and each of you bring his censer before the Lord, two hundred and fifty censers; both you and Aaron, each with his censer.” 18 So every man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the tabernacle of meeting with Moses and Aaron. 19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then (AS)the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation.

20 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 21 (AT)“Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may (AU)consume them in a moment.”

22 Then they (AV)fell[i] on their faces, and said, “O God, (AW)the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the (AX)congregation?”

23 So the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’ ”

25 Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, (AY)“Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins.” 27 So they got away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little (AZ)children.

28 And Moses said: (BA)“By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them (BB)of my own will. 29 If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are (BC)visited by the common fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord creates (BD)a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they (BE)go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord.”

31 (BF)Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and (BG)all the men with Korah, with all their goods. 33 So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly. 34 Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up also!

35 And (BH)a fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.

36 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 37 “Tell Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, to pick up the censers out of the blaze, for (BI)they are holy, and scatter the fire some distance away. 38 The censers of (BJ)these men who sinned [j]against their own souls, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar. Because they presented them before the Lord, therefore they are holy; (BK)and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel.” 39 So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned up had presented, and they were hammered out as a covering on the altar, 40 to be a [k]memorial to the children of Israel (BL)that no outsider, who is not a descendant of Aaron, should come near to offer incense before the Lord, that he might not become like Korah and his companions, just as the Lord had said to him through Moses.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 15:24 Lit. away from the eyes
  2. Numbers 15:30 defiantly, lit. with a high hand
  3. Numbers 15:30 blasphemes
  4. Numbers 15:30 Put to death
  5. Numbers 15:31 iniquity
  6. Numbers 16:3 assume too much for
  7. Numbers 16:5 set aside for His use only
  8. Numbers 16:15 graciously regard
  9. Numbers 16:22 prostrated themselves
  10. Numbers 16:38 Or at the cost of their own lives
  11. Numbers 16:40 reminder

15 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto them, Thou sayest it.

And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.

And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.

But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.

But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.

14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.

17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, The King Of The Jews.

27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,

30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.

31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.

36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.

37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.

47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

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Jesus Before Pilate(A)

15 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law(B) and the whole Sanhedrin,(C) made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.(D)

“Are you the king of the Jews?”(E) asked Pilate.

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

But Jesus still made no reply,(F) and Pilate was amazed.

Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”(G) asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas(H) instead.

12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.

14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged,(I) and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus(J)

16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace(K) (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!”(L) 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out(M) to crucify him.

The Crucifixion of Jesus(N)

21 A certain man from Cyrene,(O) Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus,(P) was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.(Q) 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh,(R) but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots(S) to see what each would get.

25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.(T)

27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [28] [a] 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads(U) and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,(V) 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him(W) among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah,(X) this king of Israel,(Y) come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus(Z)

33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.(AA) 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[b](AB)

35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”

36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar,(AC) put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.(AD)

38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.(AE) 39 And when the centurion,(AF) who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,[c] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”(AG)

40 Some women were watching from a distance.(AH) Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph,[d] and Salome.(AI) 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.(AJ)

The Burial of Jesus(AK)

42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath).(AL) So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council,(AM) who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God,(AN) went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion(AO) that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.(AP) 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph(AQ) saw where he was laid.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 15:28 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Luke 22:37.
  2. Mark 15:34 Psalm 22:1
  3. Mark 15:39 Some manuscripts saw that he died with such a cry
  4. Mark 15:40 Greek Joses, a variant of Joseph; also in verse 47

Jesus Faces Pilate(A)

15 Immediately, (B)in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and (C)delivered Him to Pilate. (D)Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

He answered and said to him, It is as you say.”

And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He (E)answered nothing. (F)Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things [a]they testify against You!” (G)But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.

Taking the Place of Barabbas(H)

Now (I)at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. Then the multitude, [b]crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

11 But (J)the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. 12 Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the (K)King of the Jews?”

13 So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”

14 Then Pilate said to them, “Why, (L)what evil has He done?”

But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”

15 (M)So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be (N)crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus(O)

16 (P)Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called [c]Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. 17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, 18 and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 Then they (Q)struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. 20 And when they had (R)mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

The King on a Cross(S)

21 (T)Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. 22 (U)And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 (V)Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. 24 And when they crucified Him, (W)they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.

25 Now (X)it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. 26 And (Y)the inscription of His [d]accusation was written above:

THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27 (Z)With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. 28 [e]So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, (AA)“And He was numbered with the transgressors.”

29 And (AB)those who passed by blasphemed Him, (AC)wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! (AD)You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”

31 Likewise the chief priests also, (AE)mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved (AF)others; Himself He cannot save. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and [f]believe.”

Even (AG)those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.

Jesus Dies on the Cross(AH)

33 Now (AI)when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, (AJ)“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!” 36 Then (AK)someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and (AL)offered it to Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.”

37 (AM)And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.

38 Then (AN)the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 So (AO)when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that [g]He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”

40 (AP)There were also women looking on (AQ)from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, 41 who also (AR)followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb(AS)

42 (AT)Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who (AU)was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. 45 So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 (AV)Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 15:4 NU of which they accuse You
  2. Mark 15:8 NU going up
  3. Mark 15:16 The governor’s headquarters
  4. Mark 15:26 crime
  5. Mark 15:28 NU omits v. 28.
  6. Mark 15:32 M believe Him
  7. Mark 15:39 NU He thus breathed His last

54 Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.

For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.

I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good.

For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

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Psalm 54[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[b] of David. When the Ziphites(A) had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”

Save me(B), O God, by your name;(C)
    vindicate me by your might.(D)
Hear my prayer, O God;(E)
    listen to the words of my mouth.

Arrogant foes are attacking me;(F)
    ruthless people(G) are trying to kill me(H)
    people without regard for God.[c](I)

Surely God is my help;(J)
    the Lord is the one who sustains me.(K)

Let evil recoil(L) on those who slander me;
    in your faithfulness(M) destroy them.

I will sacrifice a freewill offering(N) to you;
    I will praise(O) your name, Lord, for it is good.(P)
You have delivered me(Q) from all my troubles,
    and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.(R)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 54:1 In Hebrew texts 54:1-7 is numbered 54:3-9.
  2. Psalm 54:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 54:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

Answered Prayer for Deliverance from Adversaries

To the Chief Musician. With [a]stringed instruments. A [b]Contemplation of David (A)when the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is David not hiding with us?”

54 Save me, O God, by Your name,
And vindicate me by Your strength.
Hear my prayer, O God;
Give ear to the words of my mouth.
For strangers have risen up against me,
And oppressors have sought after my life;
They have not set God before them. Selah

Behold, God is my helper;
The Lord is with those who [c]uphold my life.
He will repay my enemies for their evil.
[d]Cut them off in Your [e]truth.

I will freely sacrifice to You;
I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good.
For He has delivered me out of all trouble;
(B)And my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 54:1 Heb. neginoth
  2. Psalm 54:1 Heb. Maschil
  3. Psalm 54:4 sustain my soul
  4. Psalm 54:5 Destroy them
  5. Psalm 54:5 Or faithfulness

The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

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The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,(A)
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.(B)

The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(C)

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The righteousness of the blameless will [a]direct his way aright,
But the wicked will fall by his own (A)wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:5 Or make smooth or straight