A Walk Through The Word

The Nazirite Vow

6 The Lord instructed Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When a man or woman makes a special vow, a Nazirite vow,^(A) to consecrate himself to the Lord, ³ he is to abstain from wine and beer.^(B) He must not drink vinegar made from wine or from beer. He must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins. ⁴ He is not to eat anything produced by the grapevine, from seeds to skin, during the period of his consecration.

⁵ “You must not cut his hair^[a] throughout the time of his vow of consecration. He may be holy until the time is completed during which he consecrates himself to the Lord; he is to let the hair of his head grow long. ⁶ He must not go near a dead body during the time he consecrates himself to the Lord.^{(C) 7} He is not to defile himself for his father or mother, or his brother or sister, when they die, while the mark of consecration to his God is on his head. ⁸ He is holy to the Lord^(D) during the time of consecration.

⁹ “If someone suddenly dies near him, defiling his consecrated head, he must shave his head on the day of his purification; he is to shave it on the seventh day.^{(E) 10} On the eighth day he is to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting.^{(F) 11} The priest is to offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering^(G) to make atonement on behalf of the Nazirite, since he incurred guilt because of the corpse. On that day he is to consecrate his head again.^{(H) 12} He is to rededicate his time of consecration to the Lord and to bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering.^(I) But do not count the initial period of consecration because it became defiled.

¹³ “This is the law of the Nazirite: On the day his time of consecration is completed, he is to be brought to the entrance to the tent of meeting.^{(J) 14} He is to present an offering to the Lord^(K) of one unblemished year-old male lamb as a burnt offering, one unblemished year-old female lamb as a sin offering, one unblemished ram as a fellowship offering,^{(L) 15} along with their grain offerings and drink offerings,^(M) and a basket of unleavened cakes made from fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers coated with oil.^(N)

¹⁶ “The priest is to present these before the Lord and sacrifice the Nazirite’s sin offering and burnt offering. ¹⁷ He will also offer the ram as a fellowship sacrifice to the Lord, together with the basket of unleavened bread. Then the priest will offer the accompanying grain offering and drink offering.

¹⁸ “The Nazirite is to shave his consecrated head at the entrance to the tent of meeting, take the hair from his head, and put it on the fire under the fellowship sacrifice. ¹⁹ The priest is to take the boiled shoulder from the ram, one unleavened cake from the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and put them into the hands^(O) of the Nazirite after he has shaved his consecrated head. ²⁰ The priest is to present them as a presentation offering before the Lord.^(P) It is a holy portion for the priest, in addition to the breast of the presentation offering and the thigh of the contribution.^(Q) After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.

²¹ “These are the instructions about the Nazirite who vows his offering to the Lord for his consecration,^(R) in addition to whatever else he can afford; he must fulfill whatever vow he makes in keeping with the instructions for his consecration.”

The Priestly Blessing

²² The Lord spoke to Moses: ²³ “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. You should say to them,

²⁷ In this way they will pronounce my name over^[c] the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Offerings from the Leaders

7 On the day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle,^(V) he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings, along with the altar and all its utensils. After he anointed and consecrated these things, ² the leaders of Israel, the heads of their ancestral families,^[d] presented an offering. They were the tribal leaders who supervised the registration.^{(W) 3} They brought as their offering before the Lord six covered carts and twelve oxen, a cart from every two leaders and an ox from each one, and presented them in front of the tabernacle.

⁴ The Lord said to Moses, ⁵ “Accept these from them to be used in the work of the tent of meeting, and give this offering to the Levites, to each division according to their service.”

⁶ So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. ⁷ He gave the Gershonites two carts and four oxen corresponding to their service,^{(X) 8} and gave the Merarites four carts and eight oxen corresponding to their service,^(Y) under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. ⁹ But he did not give any to the Kohathites, since their responsibility was service related to the holy objects^(Z) carried on their shoulders.^(AA)

¹⁰ The leaders also presented the dedication gift for the altar when it was anointed.^(AB) The leaders presented their offerings in front of the altar. ¹¹ The Lord told Moses, “Each day have one leader present his offering for the dedication of the altar.”^(AC)

¹² The one who presented his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab^(AD) from the tribe of Judah. ¹³ His offering was one silver dish weighing 3¼ pounds^[e] and one silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds,^[f] measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;^{(AE) 14} one gold bowl weighing four ounces,^[g] full of incense; ¹⁵ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;^{(AF) 16} one male goat for a sin offering;^{(AG) 17} and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice.^(AH) This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

¹⁸ On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar,^(AI) leader of Issachar, presented an offering. ¹⁹ As his offering, he presented one silver dish weighing 3¼ pounds and one silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ²⁰ one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense; ²¹ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ²² one male goat for a sin offering; ²³ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

²⁴ On the third day Eliab son of Helon,^(AJ) leader of the Zebulunites, presented an offering. ²⁵ His offering was one silver dish weighing 3¼ pounds and one silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ²⁶ one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense; ²⁷ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ²⁸ one male goat for a sin offering; ²⁹ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

³⁰ On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur,^(AK) leader of the Reubenites, presented an offering. ³¹ His offering was one silver dish weighing 3¼ pounds and one silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ³² one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense; ³³ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ³⁴ one male goat for a sin offering; ³⁵ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

³⁶ On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,^(AL) leader of the Simeonites, presented an offering. ³⁷ His offering was one silver dish weighing 3¼ pounds and one silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ³⁸ one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense; ³⁹ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁴⁰ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁴¹ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

⁴² On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel,^[h](AM) leader of the Gadites, presented an offering. ⁴³ His offering was one silver dish weighing 3¼ pounds and one silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁴⁴ one gold bowl weighing four ounces full of incense; ⁴⁵ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁴⁶ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁴⁷ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.^[i]

⁴⁸ On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud,^(AN) leader of the Ephraimites, presented an offering. ⁴⁹ His offering was one silver dish weighing 3¼ pounds and one silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁵⁰ one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense; ⁵¹ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁵² one male goat for a sin offering; ⁵³ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.

⁵⁴ On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,^(AO) leader of the Manassites, presented an offering. ⁵⁵ His offering was one silver dish weighing 3¼ pounds and one silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁵⁶ one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense; ⁵⁷ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁵⁸ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁵⁹ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

⁶⁰ On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni,^(AP) leader of the Benjaminites, presented an offering. ⁶¹ His offering was one silver dish weighing 3¼ pounds and one silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁶² one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense; ⁶³ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁶⁴ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁶⁵ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

⁶⁶ On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai,^(AQ) leader of the Danites, presented an offering. ⁶⁷ His offering was one silver dish weighing 3¼ pounds and one silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁶⁸ one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense; ⁶⁹ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁷⁰ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁷¹ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

⁷² On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ochran,^(AR) leader of the Asherites, presented an offering. ⁷³ His offering was one silver dish weighing 3¼ pounds and one silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁷⁴ one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense; ⁷⁵ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁷⁶ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁷⁷ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ochran.

⁷⁸ On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan,^(AS) leader of the Naphtalites, presented an offering. ⁷⁹ His offering was one silver dish weighing 3¼ pounds and one silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁸⁰ one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense; ⁸¹ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁸² one male goat for a sin offering; ⁸³ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

⁸⁴ This was the dedication gift from the leaders of Israel for the altar when it was anointed:^(AT) twelve silver dishes, twelve silver basins, and twelve gold bowls. ⁸⁵ Each silver dish weighed 3¼ pounds,^[j] and each basin 1¾ pounds.^[k] The total weight of the silver articles was 60 pounds^[l] measured by the standard sanctuary shekel. ⁸⁶ The twelve gold bowls full of incense each weighed four ounces measured by the standard sanctuary shekel. The total weight of the gold bowls was 3 pounds.^{[m] 87} All the livestock for the burnt offering^(AU) totaled twelve bulls, twelve rams, and twelve male lambs a year old, with their grain offerings, and twelve male goats for the sin offering.^{(AV) 88} All the livestock for the fellowship sacrifice^(AW) totaled twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty male lambs a year old. This was the dedication gift for the altar after it was anointed.

⁸⁹ When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him^(AX) from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim.^(AY) He spoke to him that way.

Warning against the Scribes

³⁸ He^(A) also said in his teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes^(B) and who want greetings in the marketplaces,^{(C) 39} the best seats^(D) in the synagogues,^(E) and the places of honor^(F) at banquets.^{(G) 40} They devour^(H) widows’^(I) houses and say long prayers^(J) just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.”

The Widow’s Gift

⁴¹ Sitting^(K) across from the temple treasury,^(L) he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich^(M) people were putting in large sums. ⁴² Then a poor^(N) widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. ⁴³ Summoning his disciples,^(O) he said to them, “Truly I tell you,^(P) this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.^{(Q) 44} For they all gave out of their surplus,^(R) but she out of her poverty^(S) has put in everything she had^(T) —all she had to live on.”^(U)

Destruction of the Temple Predicted

13 As^(V) he was going out of the temple,^(W) one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher,^(X) look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!” ^(Y)

² Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings?^(Z) Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down.”

Signs of the End of the Age

³ While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives^(AA) across from the temple,^(AB) Peter,^(AC) James,^(AD) John,^(AE) and Andrew^(AF) asked him privately, ⁴ “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”

⁵ Jesus told them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁶ Many will come in my name,^(AG) saying, ‘I am he,’^(AH) and they will deceive^(AI) many. ⁷ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars,^(AJ) don’t be alarmed;^(AK) these things must take place,^(AL) but it is not yet the end. ⁸ For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^(AM) There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines.^[a] These are the beginning^(AN) of birth pains.^(AO)

Persecutions Predicted

⁹ “But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts,^[b](AP) and you will be flogged^(AQ) in the synagogues.^(AR) You will stand before governors and kings^(AS) because of me,^(AT) as a witness^(AU) to them.^{(AV) 10} And it is necessary that the gospel^(AW) be preached to all nations. ¹¹ So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say, but say whatever is given to you at that time, for it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

¹² “Brother will betray^(AX) brother to death,^(AY) and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. ¹³ You will be hated by everyone because of my name,^(AZ) but the one who endures to the end will be saved.^(BA)

Psalm 49

Misplaced Trust in Wealth

For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

Duties of the Kohathites

4 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: ² “Among the Levites, take a census of the Kohathites^(A) by their clans and their ancestral families,^{[a] 3} men from thirty years old to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified^[b] to do work at the tent of meeting.

⁴ “The service of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting concerns the most holy objects.^{(B) 5} Whenever the camp is about to move on, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the screening curtain, and cover the ark of the testimony with it.^{(C) 6} They are to place over this a covering made of fine leather,^[c](D) spread a solid blue cloth on top, and insert its poles.^(E)

⁷ “They are to spread a blue cloth over the table of the Presence and place the plates and cups on it, as well as the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to be on it.^{(F) 8} They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with a covering made of fine leather, and insert the poles in the table.^(G)

⁹ “They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand^(H) used for light, with its lamps, snuffers, and firepans,^(I) as well as its jars of oil by which they service it. ¹⁰ Then they are to place it with all its utensils inside a covering made of fine leather and put them on the carrying frame.

¹¹ “They are to spread a blue cloth over the gold altar,^(J) cover it with a covering made of fine leather, and insert its poles.^{(K) 12} They are to take all the serving utensils they use in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering made of fine leather, and put them on a carrying frame.

¹³ “They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it, ¹⁴ and place all the equipment on it that they use in serving: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and basins—all the equipment of the altar.^(L) They are to spread a covering made of fine leather over it and insert its poles.^[d](M)

¹⁵ “Aaron and his sons are to finish covering the holy objects and all their equipment whenever the camp is to move on. The Kohathites will come and carry them, but they are not to touch the holy objects or they will die.^(N) These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the tent of meeting.

¹⁶ “Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has oversight of the lamp oil,^(O) the fragrant incense,^(P) the daily grain offering,^(Q) and the anointing oil.^(R) He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, the holy objects and their utensils.”^[e]

¹⁷ Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: ¹⁸ “Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be wiped out from the Levites. ¹⁹ Do this for them so that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy objects:^(S) Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and transportation duty. ²⁰ The Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects as they are covered^[f] or they will die.”

Duties of the Gershonites

²¹ The Lord spoke to Moses: ²² “Take a census of the Gershonites^(T) also, by their ancestral families and their clans. ²³ Register men from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who is qualified to perform service, to do work at the tent of meeting. ²⁴ This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transportation duties: ²⁵ They are to transport the tabernacle curtains,^(U) the tent of meeting with its covering and the covering made of fine leather on top of it, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, ²⁶ the hangings of the courtyard, the screen for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and the altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. They will carry out everything that needs to be done with these items.

²⁷ “All the service of the Gershonites, all their transportation duties and all their other work, is to be done at the command of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry. ²⁸ This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the tent of meeting, and their duties will be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.^(V)

Duties of the Merarites

²⁹ “As for the Merarites, you are to register them by their clans^(W) and their ancestral families. ³⁰ Register men from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who is qualified to do the work of the tent of meeting. ³¹ This is what they are responsible to carry as the whole of their service at the tent of meeting: the supports of the tabernacle, with its crossbars, pillars, and bases, ³² the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and all the work related to them. You are to assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry. ³³ This is the service of the Merarite clans regarding all their work at the tent of meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”

Census of the Levites

³⁴ So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the community registered the Kohathites by their clans and their ancestral families, ³⁵ men from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who was qualified for work at the tent of meeting. ³⁶ The men registered by their clans numbered 2,750. ³⁷ These were the registered men of the Kohathite clans, everyone who could serve at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron registered them at the Lord’s command through Moses.

³⁸ The Gershonites were registered by their clans and their ancestral families, ³⁹ men from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who was qualified for work at the tent of meeting. ⁴⁰ The men registered by their clans and their ancestral families numbered 2,630. ⁴¹ These were the registered men of the Gershonite clans. At the Lord’s command Moses and Aaron registered everyone who could serve at the tent of meeting.

⁴² The men of the Merarite clans were registered by their clans and their ancestral families, ⁴³ those from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who was qualified for work at the tent of meeting. ⁴⁴ The men registered by their clans numbered 3,200. ⁴⁵ These were the registered men of the Merarite clans; Moses and Aaron registered them at the Lord’s command through Moses.

⁴⁶ Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel registered all the Levites by their clans and their ancestral families, ⁴⁷ from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who was qualified to do the work of serving at the tent of meeting and transporting it. ⁴⁸ Their registered men numbered 8,580. ⁴⁹ At the Lord’s command they were registered under the direction of Moses, each one according to his work and transportation duty, and his assignment was as the Lord commanded Moses.

Isolation of the Unclean

5 The Lord instructed Moses, ² “Command the Israelites to send away anyone from the camp who is afflicted with a skin disease,^(X) anyone who has a discharge,^(Y) or anyone who is defiled because of a corpse.^{(Z) 3} Send away both male or female; send them outside the camp, so that they will not defile their camps where I dwell among them.” ⁴ The Israelites did this, sending them outside the camp. The Israelites did as the Lord instructed Moses.

Compensation for Wrongdoing

⁵ The Lord spoke to Moses: ⁶ “Tell the Israelites: When a man or woman commits any sin against another, that person acts unfaithfully toward the Lord^(AA) and is guilty.^{(AB) 7} The person is to confess^(AC) the sin he has committed. He is to pay full compensation, add a fifth of its value to it, and give it to the individual he has wronged.^{(AD) 8} But if that individual has no relative^(AE) to receive compensation, the compensation goes to the Lord for the priest, along with the atonement ram by which the priest will make atonement for the guilty person.^{(AF) 9} Every holy contribution the Israelites present to the priest will be his.^{(AG) 10} Each one’s holy contribution is his to give; what each one gives to the priest will be his.”

The Jealousy Ritual

¹¹ The Lord spoke to Moses: ¹² “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: If any man’s wife goes astray, is unfaithful to him, ¹³ and sleeps with another,^[g] but it is concealed from her husband, and she is undetected, even though she has defiled herself, since there is no witness against her, and she wasn’t caught in the act; ¹⁴ and if a feeling of jealousy^(AH) comes over the husband and he becomes jealous because of his wife who has defiled herself—or if a feeling of jealousy comes over him and he becomes jealous of her though she has not defiled herself— ¹⁵ then the man is to bring his wife to the priest. He is also to bring an offering for her of two quarts^[h] of barley flour. He is not to pour oil over it or put frankincense on it because it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering for remembrance to draw attention to guilt.

¹⁶ “The priest is to bring her forward and have her stand before the Lord. ¹⁷ Then the priest is to take holy water in a clay bowl, take some of the dust from the tabernacle floor, and put it in the water. ¹⁸ After the priest has the woman stand before the Lord, he is to let down her hair^[i] and place in her hands the grain offering for remembrance, which is the grain offering of jealousy. The priest is to hold the bitter water that brings a curse. ¹⁹ The priest will require the woman to take an oath and will say to her, ‘If no man has slept with you, if you have not gone astray and become defiled while under your husband’s authority, be unaffected by this bitter water that brings a curse. ²⁰ But if you have gone astray while under your husband’s authority, if you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has slept with you’— ²¹ at this point the priest will make the woman take the oath with the sworn curse, and he is to say to her—‘May the Lord make you into an object of your people’s cursing and swearing when he makes your womb^[j] shrivel and your belly swell. ²² May this water that brings a curse enter your stomach, causing your belly to swell and your womb to shrivel.’

“And the woman will reply, ‘Amen, Amen.’

²³ “Then the priest is to write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water. ²⁴ He will require the woman to drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and it will enter her to cause bitter suffering. ²⁵ The priest is to take the grain offering of jealousy from the woman, present the offering before the Lord, and bring it to the altar. ²⁶ The priest is to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial portion^(AI) and burn it on the altar. Afterward, he will require the woman to drink the water.

²⁷ “When he makes her drink the water, if she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, the water that brings a curse will enter her to cause bitter suffering; her belly will swell, and her womb will shrivel. She will become a curse among her people. ²⁸ But if the woman has not defiled herself and is pure, she will be unaffected and will be able to conceive children.

²⁹ “This is the law regarding jealousy when a wife goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband’s authority, ³⁰ or when a feeling of jealousy comes over a husband and he becomes jealous of his wife. He is to have the woman stand before the Lord, and the priest will carry out all these instructions for her. ³¹ The husband will be free of guilt, but that woman will bear her iniquity.”

The Sadducees and the Resurrection

¹⁸ Sadducees,^(A) who say there is no resurrection,^(B) came to him and questioned him: ¹⁹ “Teacher,^(C) Moses^(D) wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife behind but no child,^(E) that man should take the wife^(F) and raise up offspring for his brother.^{[a](G) 20} There were seven brothers. The first married a woman, and dying, left no offspring. ²¹ The second also took her, and he died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. ²² None of the seven^[b] left offspring. Last of all, the woman died too. ²³ In the resurrection, when they rise,^[c] whose wife will she be, since the seven had married her?”

²⁴ Jesus spoke to them, “Isn’t this the reason why you’re mistaken: you don’t know the Scriptures^(H) or the power^(I) of God?^{(J) 25} For when they rise^(K) from the dead,^(L) they neither marry nor are given in marriage^(M) but are like angels^(N) in heaven. ²⁶ And as for the dead being raised—haven’t you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God said to him: I^(O) am the God of Abraham^(P) and the God of Isaac^(Q) and the God of Jacob?^{[d](R) 27} He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are badly mistaken.”

The Primary Commands

²⁸ One^(S) of the scribes^(T) approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The most important^[e] is Listen, Israel! The Lord^(U) our God, the Lord^(V) is one.^{[f] 30} Love^(W) the Lord your God^(X) with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind,^(Y) and with all your strength.^{[g][h](Z) 31} The second is, Love your neighbor^(AA) as yourself.^[i](AB) There is no other command^(AC) greater than these.”

³² Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, teacher. You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no one^(AD) else except him.^{(AE) 33} And to love^(AF) him with all your heart, with all your understanding,^[j] and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”^(AG)

³⁴ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”^(AH) And no one dared^(AI) to question him any longer.

The Question about the Messiah

³⁵ While^(AJ) Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked,^(AK) “How can the scribes^(AL) say that the Messiah^(AM) is the son of David?^{(AN) 36} David^(AO) himself says by the Holy Spirit: ^(AP)

³⁷ David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How, then, can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

Psalm 48

Zion Exalted

A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

Organization of the Camps

2 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: ² “The Israelites are to camp under their respective banners beside the flags of their ancestral families.^[a] They are to camp around the tent of meeting at a distance from it:

³ Judah’s military divisions^(A) will camp on the east side toward the sunrise under their banner. The leader of the descendants of Judah is Nahshon^(B) son of Amminadab. ⁴ His military division numbers 74,600. ⁵ The tribe of Issachar will camp next to it. The leader of the Issacharites is Nethanel son of Zuar. ⁶ His military division numbers 54,400. ⁷ The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the Zebulunites is Eliab son of Helon. ⁸ His military division numbers 57,400. ⁹ The total number in their military divisions who belong to Judah’s encampment is 186,400; they will move out first.

¹⁰ Reuben’s military divisions will camp on the south side under their banner. The leader of the Reubenites is Elizur son of Shedeur. ¹¹ His military division numbers 46,500. ¹² The tribe of Simeon will camp next to it. The leader of the Simeonites is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. ¹³ His military division numbers 59,300. ¹⁴ The tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the Gadites is Eliasaph son of Deuel.^{[b] 15} His military division numbers 45,650. ¹⁶ The total number in their military divisions who belong to Reuben’s encampment is 151,450; they will move out second.

¹⁷ The tent of meeting is to move out with the Levites’ camp, which is in the middle of the camps. They are to move out just as they camp, each in his place,^[c] with their banners.

¹⁸ Ephraim’s military divisions will camp on the west side under their banner. The leader of the Ephraimites is Elishama son of Ammihud. ¹⁹ His military division numbers 40,500. ²⁰ The tribe of Manasseh will be next to it. The leader of the Manassites is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. ²¹ His military division numbers 32,200. ²² The tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the Benjaminites is Abidan son of Gideoni. ²³ His military division numbers 35,400. ²⁴ The total in their military divisions who belong to Ephraim’s encampment number 108,100; they will move out third.

²⁵ Dan’s military divisions will camp on the north side under their banner. The leader of the Danites is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. ²⁶ His military division numbers 62,700. ²⁷ The tribe of Asher will camp next to it. The leader of the Asherites is Pagiel son of Ochran. ²⁸ His military division numbers 41,500. ²⁹ The tribe of Naphtali will be next. The leader of the Naphtalites is Ahira son of Enan. ³⁰ His military division numbers 53,400. ³¹ The total number who belong to Dan’s encampment is 157,600; they are to move out last, with their banners.”

³² These are the Israelites registered by their ancestral families. The total number in the camps by their military divisions is 603,550. ³³ But the Levites were not registered among the Israelites, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.^(C)

³⁴ The Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; they camped by their banners in this way and moved out the same way, each man by his clan and by his ancestral family.^[d](D)

Aaron’s Sons and the Levites

3 These are the family records of Aaron and Moses at the time the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.^{(E) 2} These are the names of Aaron’s sons: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ³ These are the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. ⁴ But Nadab and Abihu died in the Lord’s presence when they presented unauthorized fire^(F) before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests under the direction of Aaron their father.^(G)

⁵ The Lord spoke to Moses: ⁶ “Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them to the priest Aaron to assist him. ⁷ They are to perform duties for^[e] him and the entire community before the tent of meeting by attending to the service of the tabernacle. ⁸ They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting^(H) and perform duties for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle. ⁹ Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been assigned exclusively to him^[f] from the Israelites.^{(I) 10} You are to appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out their priestly responsibilities, but any unauthorized person who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.”^(J)

¹¹ The Lord spoke to Moses: ¹² “See, I have taken the Levites from the Israelites in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb.^(K) The Levites belong to me, ¹³ because every firstborn belongs to me. At the time I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt,^(L) I consecrated every firstborn in Israel to myself, both man and animal. They are mine; I am the Lord.”^(M)

The Levitical Census

¹⁴ The Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai: ¹⁵ “Register the Levites by their ancestral families^[g] and their clans. You are to register every male one month old or more.” ¹⁶ So Moses registered them in obedience to the Lord as he had been commanded:

¹⁷ These were Levi’s sons by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. ¹⁸ These were the names of Gershon’s sons by their clans: Libni and Shimei. ¹⁹ Kohath’s sons by their clans were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. ²⁰ Merari’s sons by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the Levite clans by their ancestral families.^(N)

²¹ The Libnite clan and the Shimeite clan came from Gershon; these were the Gershonite clans. ²² Those registered, counting every male one month old or more, numbered 7,500. ²³ The Gershonite clans camped behind the tabernacle on the west side,^{(O) 24} and the leader of the Gershonite families^[h] was Eliasaph son of Lael. ²⁵ The Gershonites’ duties^(P) at the tent of meeting involved the tabernacle, the tent, its covering, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting,^{(Q) 26} the hangings of the courtyard, the screen for the entrance^(R) to the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and the altar, and the tent ropes—all the work relating to these.

²⁷ The Amramite clan, the Izharite clan, the Hebronite clan, and the Uzzielite clan came from Kohath; these were the Kohathites. ²⁸ Counting every male one month old or more, there were 8,600^[i] responsible for the duties of^[j] the sanctuary. ²⁹ The clans of the Kohathites camped on the south side of the tabernacle,^{(S) 30} and the leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. ³¹ Their duties involved the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the sanctuary utensils that were used with these, and the screen^[k](T)—and all the work relating to them.^{(U) 32} The chief of the Levite leaders was Eleazar^(V) son of Aaron the priest; he had oversight of those responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.

³³ The Mahlite clan and the Mushite clan came from Merari; these were the Merarite clans. ³⁴ Those registered, counting every male one month old or more, numbered 6,200. ³⁵ The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they camped on the north side of the tabernacle.^{(W) 36} The assigned duties of Merari’s descendants involved the tabernacle’s supports, crossbars, pillars, bases, all its equipment, and all the work related to these,^{(X) 37} in addition to the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes.

³⁸ Moses, Aaron, and his sons, who performed the duties of^[l] the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites, camped in front of the tabernacle on the east,^(Y) in front of the tent of meeting toward the sunrise. Any unauthorized person who came near it was to be put to death.^(Z)

³⁹ The total number of all the Levite males one month old or more that Moses and Aaron^[m] registered by their clans at the Lord’s command was 22,000.

Redemption of the Firstborn

⁴⁰ The Lord told Moses, “Register every firstborn male of the Israelites^(AA) one month old or more, and list their names. ⁴¹ You are to take the Levites for me—I am the Lord—in place of every firstborn among the Israelites, and the Levites’ cattle in place of every firstborn among the Israelites’ cattle.” ⁴² So Moses registered every firstborn among the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. ⁴³ The total number of the firstborn males one month old or more listed by name was 22,273.

⁴⁴ The Lord spoke to Moses again: ⁴⁵ “Take the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Israelites, and the Levites’ cattle in place of their cattle. The Levites belong to me; I am the Lord.^{(AB) 46} As the redemption price for the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites, ⁴⁷ collect five shekels for each person, according to the standard sanctuary shekel—twenty gerahs to the shekel.^{[n](AC) 48} Give the silver to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are in excess among the Israelites.”

⁴⁹ So Moses collected the redemption amount from those in excess of the ones redeemed by the Levites. ⁵⁰ He collected the silver from the firstborn Israelites: 1,365 shekels^[o] measured by the standard sanctuary shekel. ⁵¹ He gave the redemption silver to Aaron and his sons in obedience to the Lord, just as the Lord commanded Moses.

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

²⁷ They^(A) came again to Jerusalem.^(B) As he was walking in the temple,^(C) the chief priests, the scribes,^(D) and the elders^(E) came ²⁸ and asked him, “By what authority^(F) are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do these things?”

²⁹ Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question;^(G) then answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ³⁰ Was John’s baptism^(H) from heaven or of human origin? Answer me.”

³¹ They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe^(I) him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘Of human origin’”—they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought that John was truly a prophet.^{(J) 33} So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The Parable of the Vineyard Owner

12 He^(K) began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard,^(L) put a fence around it, dug out a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went away. ² At harvest time he sent^(M) a servant^(N) to the farmers to collect some of the fruit^(O) of the vineyard from them. ³ But they took him, beat^(P) him, and sent him away empty-handed.^{(Q) 4} Again he sent another servant to them, and they^[a] hit him on the head and treated him shamefully.^{[b] 5} Then he sent another, and they killed that one. He also sent many others; some they beat, and others they killed. ⁶ He still had one to send, a beloved^(R) son. Finally^(S) he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ⁷ But those tenant farmers said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ ⁸ So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. ⁹ What then will the owner^[c](T) of the vineyard do? He will come and kill the farmers and give the vineyard to others. ¹⁰ Haven’t you read this Scripture:^(U)

¹² They were looking for a way to arrest him but feared the crowd because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. So they left him and went away.

God and Caesar

¹³ Then^(Y) they sent some of the Pharisees^(Z) and the Herodians^(AA) to Jesus to trap him in his words.^{(AB) 14} When they came, they said to him, “Teacher, we know you are truthful and don’t care what anyone thinks, nor do you show partiality^(AC) but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes^(AD) to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

¹⁵ But knowing their hypocrisy,^(AE) he said to them, “Why are you testing^(AF) me? Bring me a denarius^[e](AG) to look at.” ¹⁶ They brought a coin. “Whose image^(AH) and inscription^(AI) is this?” he asked them.

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

¹⁷ Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”^(AJ) And they were utterly amazed^(AK) at him.

Psalm 47

God Our King

For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

¹⁴ “When a man consecrates his house as holy to the Lord, the priest will assess its value, whether high or low. The price will stand just as the priest assesses it. ¹⁵ But if the one who consecrated his house redeems it, he must add a fifth to the assessed value, and it will be his.^(A)

¹⁶ “If a man consecrates to the Lord any part of a field that he possesses, your assessment of value will be proportional to the seed needed to sow it, at the rate of fifty silver shekels for every six bushels^[a] of barley seed.^{[b] 17} If he consecrates his field during the Year of Jubilee,^(B) the price will stand according to your assessment. ¹⁸ But if he consecrates his field after the Jubilee, the priest will calculate the price for him in proportion to the years left until the next Year of Jubilee, so that your assessment will be reduced. ¹⁹ If the one who consecrated the field decides to redeem it, he must add a fifth to the assessed value, and the field will transfer back to him. ²⁰ But if he does not redeem the field or if he has sold it to another man, it is no longer redeemable. ²¹ When the field is released in the Jubilee, it will be holy to the Lord like a field permanently set apart; it becomes the priest’s property.

²² “If a person consecrates to the Lord a field he has purchased that is not part of his inherited landholding, ²³ then the priest will calculate for him the amount of the assessment up to the Year of Jubilee, and the person will pay the assessed value on that day as a holy offering to the Lord. ²⁴ In the Year of Jubilee the field will return to the one he bought it from,^(C) the original owner. ²⁵ All your assessed values will be measured by the standard sanctuary shekel,^[c] twenty gerahs to the shekel.^(D)

²⁶ “But no one can consecrate a firstborn of the livestock, whether an animal from the herd or flock, to the Lord, because a firstborn already belongs to the Lord.^{(E) 27} If it is one of the unclean livestock, it can be ransomed according to your assessment by adding a fifth of its value to it. If it is not redeemed, it can be sold according to your assessment.^(F)

²⁸ “Nothing that a man permanently sets apart to the Lord from all he owns, whether a person, an animal, or his inherited landholding, can be sold or redeemed; everything set apart is especially holy to the Lord. ²⁹ No person who has been set apart for destruction is to be ransomed; he must be put to death.^(G)

³⁰ “Every tenth of the land’s produce, grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord;^(H) it is holy to the Lord. ³¹ If a man decides to redeem any part of this tenth, he must add a fifth to its value. ³² Every tenth animal from the herd or flock, which passes under the shepherd’s rod,^(I) will be holy to the Lord. ³³ He is not to inspect whether it is good or bad, and he is not to make a substitution for it. But if he does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute will be holy;^(J) they cannot be redeemed.”^(K)

³⁴ These are the commands the Lord gave Moses for the Israelites on Mount Sinai.^(L)

The Census of Israel

1 The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting^(M) in the Wilderness of Sinai,^(N) on the first day of the second month of the second year^(O) after Israel’s departure from the land of Egypt: ² “Take a census^(P) of the entire Israelite community by their clans and their ancestral families,^[d] counting the names of every male one by one. ³ You and Aaron are to register those who are twenty years old or more by their military divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army.^{[e](Q) 4} A man from each tribe is to be with you, each one the head of his ancestral family.^{[f](R) 5} These are the names of the men who are to assist you:^(S)

¹⁶ These are the men called from the community; they are leaders of their ancestral tribes,^(T) the heads of Israel’s clans.”^(U)

¹⁷ So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been designated by name,^{(V) 18} and they assembled the whole community on the first day of the second month. They recorded their ancestry by their clans and their ancestral families, counting one by one the names of those twenty years old or more, ¹⁹ just as the Lord commanded Moses. He registered them in the Wilderness of Sinai:

²⁰ The descendants of Reuben,^(W) the firstborn of Israel: according to their family records by their clans and their ancestral families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years old or more, everyone who could serve in the army, ²¹ those registered for the tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500.

²² The descendants of Simeon:^(X) according to their family records by their clans and their ancestral families, those registered counting one by one the names of every male twenty years old or more, everyone who could serve in the army, ²³ those registered for the tribe of Simeon numbered 59,300.

²⁴ The descendants of Gad:^(Y) according to their family records by their clans and their ancestral families, counting the names of those twenty years old or more, everyone who could serve in the army, ²⁵ those registered for the tribe of Gad numbered 45,650.

²⁶ The descendants of Judah:^(Z) according to their family records by their clans and their ancestral families, counting the names of those twenty years old or more, everyone who could serve in the army, ²⁷ those registered for the tribe of Judah numbered 74,600.

²⁸ The descendants of Issachar:^(AA) according to their family records by their clans and their ancestral families, counting the names of those twenty years old or more, everyone who could serve in the army, ²⁹ those registered for the tribe of Issachar numbered 54,400.

³⁰ The descendants of Zebulun:^(AB) according to their family records by their clans and their ancestral families, counting the names of those twenty years old or more, everyone who could serve in the army, ³¹ those registered for the tribe of Zebulun numbered 57,400.

³² The descendants of Joseph:^(AC)

The descendants of Ephraim:^(AD) according to their family records by their clans and their ancestral families, counting the names of those twenty years old or more, everyone who could serve in the army, ³³ those registered for the tribe of Ephraim numbered 40,500.

³⁴ The descendants of Manasseh:^(AE) according to their family records by their clans and their ancestral families, counting the names of those twenty years old or more, everyone who could serve in the army, ³⁵ those registered for the tribe of Manasseh numbered 32,200.

³⁶ The descendants of Benjamin:^(AF) according to their family records by their clans and their ancestral families, counting the names of those twenty years old or more, everyone who could serve in the army, ³⁷ those registered for the tribe of Benjamin numbered 35,400.

³⁸ The descendants of Dan:^(AG) according to their family records by their clans and their ancestral families, counting the names of those twenty years old or more, everyone who could serve in the army, ³⁹ those registered for the tribe of Dan numbered 62,700.

⁴⁰ The descendants of Asher:^(AH) according to their family records by their clans and their ancestral families, counting the names of those twenty years old or more, everyone who could serve in the army, ⁴¹ those registered for the tribe of Asher numbered 41,500.

⁴² The descendants of Naphtali:^(AI) according to their family records by their clans and their ancestral families, counting the names of those twenty years old or more, everyone who could serve in the army, ⁴³ those registered for the tribe of Naphtali numbered 53,400.

⁴⁴ These are the men Moses and Aaron registered, with the assistance of the twelve leaders of Israel; each represented his ancestral family. ⁴⁵ So all the Israelites twenty years old or more, everyone who could serve in Israel’s army, were registered by their ancestral families. ⁴⁶ All those registered numbered 603,550.^(AJ)

Duties of the Levites

⁴⁷ But the Levites^(AK) were not registered with them by their ancestral tribe. ⁴⁸ For the Lord had told Moses, ⁴⁹ “Do not register or take a census of the tribe of Levi with the other Israelites. ⁵⁰ Appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, all its furnishings, and everything in it. They are to transport the tabernacle and all its articles, take care of it, and camp around it. ⁵¹ Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever it is to stop at a campsite, the Levites are to set it up. Any unauthorized^(AL) person who comes near it is to be put to death.^(AM)

⁵² “The Israelites are to camp by their military divisions, each man with his encampment and under his banner. ⁵³ The Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the Israelite community.”^{(AN) 54} The Israelites did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses.^(AO)

The Triumphal Entry

11 When^(A) they approached Jerusalem,^(B) at Bethphage and Bethany^(C) near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples ² and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. ³ If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.’”

⁴ So they went and found a colt outside in the street, tied by a door. They untied it, ⁵ and some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” ⁶ They answered them just as Jesus had said; so they let them go.

⁷ They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and he sat on it. ⁸ Many people spread their clothes on the road,^(D) and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields.^{[a] 9} Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted:

¹¹ He went into Jerusalem^(J) and into the temple.^(K) After looking around at everything, since it was already late, he went out to Bethany^(L) with the Twelve.

The Barren Fig Tree Is Cursed

¹² The^(M) next day when they went out from Bethany, he was hungry. ¹³ Seeing in the distance a fig^(N) tree with leaves, he went to find out if there was anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴ He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit^(O) from you again!”^(P) And his disciples^(Q) heard it.

Cleansing the Temple

¹⁵ They came to Jerusalem,^(R) and he went into the temple^(S) and began to throw out those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers^(T) and the chairs of those selling doves, ¹⁶ and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. ¹⁷ He was teaching them: “Is it not written,^(U) My house^(V) will be called a house of prayer^(W) for all nations?^[c] But you have made it a den of thieves!”^[d](X)

¹⁸ The chief priests and the scribes^(Y) heard it and started looking for a way to kill him. For they were afraid^(Z) of him, because the whole crowd was astonished by his teaching.

¹⁹ Whenever evening came, they would go out of the city.

The Barren Fig Tree Is Withered

²⁰ Early^(AA) in the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. ²¹ Then Peter^(AB) remembered and said to him, “Rabbi,^(AC) look! The fig tree that you cursed^(AD) has withered.”

²² Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God.^{(AE) 23} Truly I tell you,^(AF) if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt^(AG) in his heart, but believes^(AH) that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.^{(AI) 24} Therefore I tell you, everything you pray^(AJ) and ask for^(AK)—believe that you have received^[e](AL) it and it will be yours. ²⁵ And whenever you stand^(AM) praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive^(AN) him, so that your Father^(AO) in heaven^(AP) will also forgive^(AQ) you your wrongdoing.”^[f]

Psalm 46

God Our Refuge

For the choir director. A song of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.^(A)

⁴⁷ “‘If a foreigner residing among you becomes rich and any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves^(A) to the foreigner or to a member of the foreigner’s clan, ⁴⁸ they retain the right of redemption^(B) after they have sold themselves. One of their relatives^(C) may redeem them: ⁴⁹ An uncle or a cousin or any blood relative in their clan may redeem them. Or if they prosper,^(D) they may redeem themselves. ⁵⁰ They and their buyer are to count the time from the year they sold themselves up to the Year of Jubilee.^(E) The price for their release is to be based on the rate paid to a hired worker^(F) for that number of years. ⁵¹ If many years remain, they must pay for their redemption a larger share of the price paid for them. ⁵² If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, they are to compute that and pay for their redemption accordingly.^{(G) 53} They are to be treated as workers hired from year to year; you must see to it that those to whom they owe service do not rule over them ruthlessly.^(H)

⁵⁴ “‘Even if someone is not redeemed in any of these ways, they and their children are to be released in the Year of Jubilee, ⁵⁵ for the Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt.^(I) I am the Lord your God.^(J)

Reward for Obedience

26 “‘Do not make idols^(K) or set up an image^(L) or a sacred stone^(M) for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone^(N) in your land to bow down before it. I am the Lord your God.

² “‘Observe my Sabbaths^(O) and have reverence for my sanctuary.^(P) I am the Lord.

³ “‘If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey^(Q) my commands, ⁴ I will send you rain^(R) in its season,^(S) and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.^{(T) 5} Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want^(U) and live in safety in your land.^(V)

⁶ “‘I will grant peace in the land,^(W) and you will lie down^(X) and no one will make you afraid.^(Y) I will remove wild beasts^(Z) from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. ⁷ You will pursue your enemies,^(AA) and they will fall by the sword before you. ⁸ Five^(AB) of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.^(AC)

⁹ “‘I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers,^(AD) and I will keep my covenant^(AE) with you. ¹⁰ You will still be eating last year’s harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new.^{(AF) 11} I will put my dwelling place^[a](AG) among you, and I will not abhor you.^{(AH) 12} I will walk^(AI) among you and be your God,^(AJ) and you will be my people.^{(AK) 13} I am the Lord your God,^(AL) who brought you out of Egypt^(AM) so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke^(AN) and enabled you to walk with heads held high.

Punishment for Disobedience

¹⁴ “‘But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands,^{(AO) 15} and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws^(AP) and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant,^{(AQ) 16} then I will do this to you: I will bring on you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever^(AR) that will destroy your sight and sap your strength.^(AS) You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.^{(AT) 17} I will set my face^(AU) against you so that you will be defeated^(AV) by your enemies;^(AW) those who hate you will rule over you,^(AX) and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.^(AY)

¹⁸ “‘If after all this you will not listen to me,^(AZ) I will punish^(BA) you for your sins seven times over.^{(BB) 19} I will break down your stubborn pride^(BC) and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze.^{(BD) 20} Your strength will be spent in vain,^(BE) because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of your land yield their fruit.^(BF)

²¹ “‘If you remain hostile^(BG) toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over,^(BH) as your sins deserve. ²² I will send wild animals^(BI) against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle and make you so few^(BJ) in number that your roads will be deserted.^(BK)

²³ “‘If in spite of these things you do not accept my correction^(BL) but continue to be hostile toward me, ²⁴ I myself will be hostile^(BM) toward you and will afflict you for your sins seven times over. ²⁵ And I will bring the sword^(BN) on you to avenge^(BO) the breaking of the covenant. When you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague^(BP) among you, and you will be given into enemy hands. ²⁶ When I cut off your supply of bread,^(BQ) ten women will be able to bake your bread in one oven, and they will dole out the bread by weight. You will eat, but you will not be satisfied.

²⁷ “‘If in spite of this you still do not listen to me^(BR) but continue to be hostile toward me, ²⁸ then in my anger^(BS) I will be hostile^(BT) toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over.^{(BU) 29} You will eat^(BV) the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters.^{(BW) 30} I will destroy your high places,^(BX) cut down your incense altars^(BY) and pile your dead bodies^[b] on the lifeless forms of your idols,^(BZ) and I will abhor^(CA) you. ³¹ I will turn your cities into ruins^(CB) and lay waste^(CC) your sanctuaries,^(CD) and I will take no delight in the pleasing aroma of your offerings.^{(CE) 32} I myself will lay waste the land,^(CF) so that your enemies who live there will be appalled.^{(CG) 33} I will scatter^(CH) you among the nations^(CI) and will draw out my sword^(CJ) and pursue you. Your land will be laid waste,^(CK) and your cities will lie in ruins.^{(CL) 34} Then the land will enjoy its sabbath years all the time that it lies desolate^(CM) and you are in the country of your enemies;^(CN) then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. ³⁵ All the time that it lies desolate, the land will have the rest^(CO) it did not have during the sabbaths you lived in it.

³⁶ “‘As for those of you who are left, I will make their hearts so fearful in the lands of their enemies that the sound of a windblown leaf^(CP) will put them to flight.^(CQ) They will run as though fleeing from the sword, and they will fall, even though no one is pursuing them.^{(CR) 37} They will stumble over one another^(CS) as though fleeing from the sword, even though no one is pursuing them. So you will not be able to stand before your enemies.^{(CT) 38} You will perish^(CU) among the nations; the land of your enemies will devour you.^{(CV) 39} Those of you who are left will waste away in the lands of their enemies because of their sins; also because of their ancestors’^(CW) sins they will waste away.^(CX)

⁴⁰ “‘But if they will confess^(CY) their sins^(CZ) and the sins of their ancestors^(DA)—their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, ⁴¹ which made me hostile^(DB) toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts^(DC) are humbled^(DD) and they pay^(DE) for their sin, ⁴² I will remember my covenant with Jacob^(DF) and my covenant with Isaac^(DG) and my covenant with Abraham,^(DH) and I will remember the land. ⁴³ For the land will be deserted^(DI) by them and will enjoy its sabbaths while it lies desolate without them. They will pay for their sins because they rejected^(DJ) my laws and abhorred my decrees.^{(DK) 44} Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies,^(DL) I will not reject them or abhor^(DM) them so as to destroy them completely,^(DN) breaking my covenant^(DO) with them. I am the Lord their God. ⁴⁵ But for their sake I will remember^(DP) the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt^(DQ) in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the Lord.’”

⁴⁶ These are the decrees, the laws and the regulations that the Lord established at Mount Sinai^(DR) between himself and the Israelites through Moses.^(DS)

Redeeming What Is the Lord’s

27 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If anyone makes a special vow^(DT) to dedicate a person to the Lord by giving the equivalent value, ³ set the value of a male between the ages of twenty and sixty at fifty shekels^[c] of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel^[d];^{(DU) 4} for a female, set her value at thirty shekels^[e]; ⁵ for a person between the ages of five and twenty, set the value of a male at twenty shekels^[f](DV) and of a female at ten shekels^[g]; ⁶ for a person between one month and five years, set the value of a male at five shekels^[h](DW) of silver and that of a female at three shekels^[i] of silver; ⁷ for a person sixty years old or more, set the value of a male at fifteen shekels^[j] and of a female at ten shekels. ⁸ If anyone making the vow is too poor to pay^(DX) the specified amount, the person being dedicated is to be presented to the priest, who will set the value^(DY) according to what the one making the vow can afford.

⁹ “‘If what they vowed is an animal that is acceptable as an offering to the Lord,^(DZ) such an animal given to the Lord becomes holy.^{(EA) 10} They must not exchange it or substitute a good one for a bad one, or a bad one for a good one;^(EB) if they should substitute one animal for another, both it and the substitute become holy. ¹¹ If what they vowed is a ceremonially unclean animal^(EC)—one that is not acceptable as an offering to the Lord—the animal must be presented to the priest, ¹² who will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, that is what it will be. ¹³ If the owner wishes to redeem^(ED) the animal, a fifth must be added to its value.^(EE)

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time^(A)

³² They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve^(B) aside and told them what was going to happen to him. ³³ “We are going up to Jerusalem,”^(C) he said, “and the Son of Man^(D) will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law.^(E) They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, ³⁴ who will mock him and spit on him, flog him^(F) and kill him.^(G) Three days later^(H) he will rise.”^(I)

The Request of James and John^(J)

³⁵ Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

³⁶ “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

³⁷ They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”^(K)

³⁸ “You don’t know what you are asking,”^(L) Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup^(M) I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”^(N)

³⁹ “We can,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,^{(O) 40} but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

⁴¹ When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. ⁴² Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ⁴³ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,^{(P) 44} and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,^(Q) and to give his life as a ransom for many.”^(R)

Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight^(S)

⁴⁶ Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. ⁴⁷ When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,^(T) he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David,^(U) have mercy on me!”

⁴⁸ Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” ⁵⁰ Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi,^(V) I want to see.”

⁵² “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.”^(W) Immediately he received his sight and followed^(X) Jesus along the road.

Psalm 45^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.^[b] A wedding song.^(A)

The Holy Oil

24 The Lord spoke to Moses:

² Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil from beaten^[a] olives for the Light so the lamps will be kept burning continually.^{[b] 3} Aaron shall set the Light before the Lord in the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil which is in front of the Testimony, every night from the evening to the morning. It is a permanent regulation throughout your generations. ⁴ He shall set the lamps regularly on the pure gold lampstand before the Lord.

The Holy Bread

⁵ You shall take fine flour and bake twelve round loaves from it. Each loaf shall be made with four quarts of flour. ⁶ You shall put them in two stacks, six to each stack, on the pure gold table before the Lord. ⁷ Upon the stacks you shall place clear frankincense as a memorial portion for the bread. It is a gift of food^[c] to the Lord. ⁸ On every Sabbath day he shall arrange it before the Lord regularly. It is a permanent covenant on behalf of the Israelites. ⁹ The bread shall belong to Aaron and his sons, who shall eat it in a holy place, for it belongs to him as a most holy thing from the gifts of food to the Lord, a perpetual allotment.

Blasphemy Against the Holy Name

¹⁰ A man who was the son of an Israelite woman and of an Egyptian man came along with the Israelites. This son of the Israelite woman fought with another Israelite in the camp. ¹¹ The Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the Name^[d] and cursed, so they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith, daughter of Dibri, belonging to the tribe of Dan.) ¹² They put him in custody to wait for a decision from the mouth of the Lord.

¹³ Then the Lord spoke to Moses: ¹⁴ “Take the man who cursed outside the camp, and all those who heard it shall lay their hands on his head, and the whole community shall stone him. ¹⁵ Then speak to the Israelites: If anyone curses his God, he shall bear his sin, ¹⁶ but if anyone blasphemes the name of the Lord, he must certainly be put to death; the whole community must stone him. Whether he is an alien or a citizen, when he has blasphemed the Name, he must be put to death.”

¹⁷ “If anyone hits someone and kills him, he must certainly be put to death. ¹⁸ But one who strikes and kills an animal must make restitution for it, a life for a life. ¹⁹ If anyone injures his fellow citizen, he shall have the same thing done to him as he has done: ²⁰ fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he injured that other person, the same is to be done to him. ²¹ One who strikes an animal so that it dies shall make restitution for it, but one who strikes a human being and kills him shall be put to death. ²² You shall have the same standard of justice for the alien who lives with you and for the citizen, for I am the Lord your God.”

²³ After Moses had spoken this to the Israelites, the man who had cursed was taken outside the camp and stoned to death. The Israelites did as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Sabbatical Years

25 The Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say this to them.”

When you enter the land that I am giving to you, the land shall observe a sabbath rest for the Lord. ³ For six years you may sow your field, and for six years you may prune your vineyard and gather its produce. ⁴ But in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of complete rest for the land, a sabbath for the Lord. You shall not sow your field, and you shall not prune your vineyard. ⁵ You shall not reap the produce that grows by itself from your harvest or gather the grapes from your unpruned vine. It shall be a year of complete rest for the land. ⁶ The sabbath of the land will, however, provide food for you—for you, for your male slaves and for your female slaves, for your hired workers and for your servants who are living with you temporarily as aliens working for you, ⁷ for your livestock and for the wild animals which are in your land. You may eat all its produce.^[e]

The Jubilee

⁸ You shall count off seven weeks of years. Count off seven years seven times, so that the duration of the seven weeks of years is forty-nine years. ⁹ Then you shall sound loud blasts on the ram’s horn. In the seventh month on the tenth day, on the Day of Atonement, you are to have a ram’s horn sounded throughout your land, ¹⁰ so that you may set aside the fiftieth year as holy and proclaim liberty throughout the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you, so that each of you may return to his family property and each of you may return to his clan. ¹¹ The fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee for you. You shall not sow the field, and you shall not reap the grain that grows by itself, and you shall not gather fruit from its unpruned vines. ¹² Because it is a Jubilee, it shall be holy for you. You may eat its produce from the field. ¹³ In this year of Jubilee each of you shall return to his family property.

¹⁴ When you sell some land to your countryman, or when you buy land from your countryman, you must not cheat your brother Israelite. ¹⁵ When you buy from your countryman, set the price according to the number of years since the last Jubilee. When he sells it to you, he shall set the price according to the number of years of produce left till the next Jubilee. ¹⁶ When there are many years left, you shall increase the purchase price. When there are few years left, you shall decrease its purchase price, because what the owner is actually selling to you is the amount of produce. ¹⁷ So each of you must not cheat your countryman, but you shall fear your God, for I am the Lord your God.

¹⁸ You shall carry out my regulations, and you shall observe my ordinances. You shall carry them out, so that you may live on the land securely. ¹⁹ The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live securely on it. ²⁰ If you ask, “What will we eat during the seventh year, since we may not sow and we may not gather our produce?” ²¹ I will command my blessing for you in the sixth year, so that the land will yield enough produce for three years. ²² When you sow in the eighth year, you will still be eating from the sixth year’s crop. You will eat the sixth year’s crop until the ninth year, when its produce comes in.

²³ But the land must not be sold without a right to recover it, for the land really belongs to me. You are actually resident aliens under my authority. ²⁴ Therefore, throughout all the land that you possess, you shall grant the right of redemption for the land. ²⁵ When your brother Israelite becomes so impoverished that he has to sell some of the land that he holds, his closest relative shall come and redeem what his brother has sold. ²⁶ When the man who has no close relative prospers and acquires enough for the price to redeem his land, ²⁷ he may calculate the years since he sold it, refund the difference to the man to whom he sold it, and return to his family property. ²⁸ But if he does not acquire a sufficient amount to recover the land for himself, what he has sold shall remain under the control of the one who bought it until the year of Jubilee. It shall become free in the Jubilee, so that the seller may return to his family property.

²⁹ When a man sells a house where he lives in a walled town, his right of redemption shall last until a full year after its sale. The time to redeem it lasts for a year. ³⁰ But if it is not redeemed before the completion of a full year, the house which is in a town which has a wall will belong to its buyer and his descendants. It cannot be reclaimed. It will not be released in the Jubilee. ³¹ But the houses in the villages that have no wall around them shall be classified as part of the farmland. They have the right of redemption and shall become free in the Jubilee.

³² All the towns of the Levites and the houses in the towns which are their property have a permanent right of redemption. ³³ Whatever a Levite is permitted to redeem (such as a house which he sold that had been his property in a city) will become free in the Jubilee, because the houses in the towns of the Levites are their possession among the Israelites.^{[f] 34} But the pastures and fields around the Levites’ towns may not be sold, for that is their permanent possession.

³⁵ When your fellow Israelite^[g] becomes so impoverished that he cannot support himself,^[h] help him as you would help a resident alien or a temporary resident. Let him retain his right to work for a livelihood among you.^{[i] 36} You shall not take advance interest or accrued interest from him, but you shall fear your God and let your brother retain his livelihood with you. ³⁷ You shall not lend him your money for advance interest or your food for accrued interest. ³⁸ I am the Lord your God, who freed you from the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.

³⁹ When your fellow Israelite becomes so indebted to you that he is sold to you, you shall not make him serve as a slave. ⁴⁰ He shall remain with you as a hired laborer or a temporary resident. He shall work for you until the year of Jubilee. ⁴¹ Then he and his children with him will become free from your authority. He shall return to his family home and to his ancestral landholding, ⁴² for the Israelites are my servants, whom I freed from the land of Egypt. They shall not be sold in a slave sale. ⁴³ You shall not rule over them harshly, but you shall fear your God.

⁴⁴ You may buy a male slave or a female slave for yourself from the nations around you. ⁴⁵ You may also buy some of the children of those who reside as aliens among you and some of their extended families who are born in your land, so that they become your property. ⁴⁶ You may leave them to your children as inherited property. You may make them work as slaves for life. But as for your brothers, the Israelites, each of you must not rule over your brother harshly.

Jesus Loves Little Children

¹³ Some people began bringing little children to Jesus so that he would touch them. But the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said, “Let the little children come to me! Do not hinder them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Amen I tell you: Whoever will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ¹⁶ And he took the little children in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁷ As Jesus was setting out on a journey, one man ran up to him and knelt in front of him. He asked, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁸ Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God. ¹⁹ You know the commandments. ‘You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony. You shall not defraud. Honor your father and mother.’”^[a]

²⁰ The man replied, “Teacher, I have kept all these since I was a child.”

²¹ Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²² When he heard this, he looked sad and went away grieving, because he had great wealth. ²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”

²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus told them again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in their riches to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “For people, it is impossible, but not for God, because all things are possible for God.”

²⁸ Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.”

²⁹ Jesus said, “Amen I tell you: There is no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, ³⁰ who now at this time will fail to receive one hundred times as much: houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields (along with persecutions)—and in the coming age: eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Present Defeat

Present Plea

Psalm 1

The Two Ways

Unacceptable Sacrifices

¹⁷ The Lord said to Moses, ¹⁸ “Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: ‘If any of you—whether an Israelite or a foreigner residing in Israel^(A)—presents a gift^(B) for a burnt offering to the Lord, either to fulfill a vow^(C) or as a freewill offering,^{(D) 19} you must present a male without defect^(E) from the cattle, sheep or goats in order that it may be accepted on your behalf.^{(F) 20} Do not bring anything with a defect,^(G) because it will not be accepted on your behalf.^{(H) 21} When anyone brings from the herd or flock^(I) a fellowship offering^(J) to the Lord to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering,^(K) it must be without defect or blemish^(L) to be acceptable.^{(M) 22} Do not offer to the Lord the blind, the injured or the maimed, or anything with warts or festering or running sores. Do not place any of these on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord. ²³ You may, however, present as a freewill offering an ox^[a] or a sheep that is deformed or stunted, but it will not be accepted in fulfillment of a vow. ²⁴ You must not offer to the Lord an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn or cut.^(N) You must not do this in your own land, ²⁵ and you must not accept such animals from the hand of a foreigner and offer them as the food of your God.^(O) They will not be accepted on your behalf, because they are deformed and have defects.^(P)’”

²⁶ The Lord said to Moses, ²⁷ “When a calf, a lamb or a goat^(Q) is born, it is to remain with its mother for seven days.^(R) From the eighth day^(S) on, it will be acceptable^(T) as a food offering presented to the Lord. ²⁸ Do not slaughter a cow or a sheep and its young on the same day.^(U)

²⁹ “When you sacrifice a thank offering^(V) to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. ³⁰ It must be eaten that same day; leave none of it till morning.^(W) I am the Lord.^(X)

³¹ “Keep^(Y) my commands and follow them.^(Z) I am the Lord. ³² Do not profane my holy name,^(AA) for I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites.^(AB) I am the Lord, who made you holy^{(AC) 33} and who brought you out of Egypt^(AD) to be your God.^(AE) I am the Lord.”

The Appointed Festivals

23 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals,^(AF) the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.^(AG)

The Sabbath

³ “‘There are six days when you may work,^(AH) but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest,^(AI) a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work;^(AJ) wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.

The Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread^(AK)

⁴ “‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times:^{(AL) 5} The Lord’s Passover^(AM) begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.^{(AN) 6} On the fifteenth day of that month the Lord’s Festival of Unleavened Bread^(AO) begins; for seven days^(AP) you must eat bread made without yeast. ⁷ On the first day hold a sacred assembly^(AQ) and do no regular work. ⁸ For seven days present a food offering to the Lord.^(AR) And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.’”

Offering the Firstfruits

⁹ The Lord said to Moses, ¹⁰ “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you^(AS) and you reap its harvest,^(AT) bring to the priest a sheaf^(AU) of the first grain you harvest.^{(AV) 11} He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord^(AW) so it will be accepted^(AX) on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. ¹² On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old^(AY) without defect,^{(AZ) 13} together with its grain offering^(BA) of two-tenths of an ephah^[b](BB) of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering^(BC) of a quarter of a hin^[c] of wine.^{(BD) 14} You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain,^(BE) until the very day you bring this offering to your God.^(BF) This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come,^(BG) wherever you live.^(BH)

The Festival of Weeks^(BI)

¹⁵ “‘From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. ¹⁶ Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath,^(BJ) and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord. ¹⁷ From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah^(BK) of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits^(BL) to the Lord. ¹⁸ Present with this bread seven male lambs, each a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the Lord, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings^(BM)—a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. ¹⁹ Then sacrifice one male goat for a sin offering^[d] and two lambs, each a year old, for a fellowship offering. ²⁰ The priest is to wave the two lambs before the Lord as a wave offering,^(BN) together with the bread of the firstfruits. They are a sacred offering to the Lord for the priest. ²¹ On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly^(BO) and do no regular work.^(BP) This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.

²² “‘When you reap the harvest^(BQ) of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.^(BR) Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you.^(BS) I am the Lord your God.’”

The Festival of Trumpets^(BT)

²³ The Lord said to Moses, ²⁴ “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly^(BU) commemorated with trumpet blasts.^{(BV) 25} Do no regular work,^(BW) but present a food offering to the Lord.^(BX)’”

The Day of Atonement^(BY)

²⁶ The Lord said to Moses, ²⁷ “The tenth day of this seventh month^(BZ) is the Day of Atonement.^(CA) Hold a sacred assembly^(CB) and deny yourselves,^[e] and present a food offering to the Lord. ²⁸ Do not do any work^(CC) on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God. ²⁹ Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people.^{(CD) 30} I will destroy from among their people^(CE) anyone who does any work on that day. ³¹ You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance^(CF) for the generations to come, wherever you live. ³² It is a day of sabbath rest^(CG) for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.”^(CH)

The Festival of Tabernacles^(CI)

³³ The Lord said to Moses, ³⁴ “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh^(CJ) month the Lord’s Festival of Tabernacles^(CK) begins, and it lasts for seven days. ³⁵ The first day is a sacred assembly;^(CL) do no regular work.^{(CM) 36} For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly^(CN) and present a food offering to the Lord.^(CO) It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work.

³⁷ (“‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food offerings to the Lord—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings^(CP) required for each day. ³⁸ These offerings^(CQ) are in addition to those for the Lord’s Sabbaths^(CR) and^[f] in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings^(CS) you give to the Lord.)

³⁹ “‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival^(CT) to the Lord for seven days;^(CU) the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest. ⁴⁰ On the first day you are to take branches^(CV) from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees^(CW)—and rejoice^(CX) before the Lord your God for seven days. ⁴¹ Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. ⁴² Live in temporary shelters^(CY) for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters ⁴³ so your descendants will know^(CZ) that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’”

⁴⁴ So Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed festivals of the Lord.

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time^(A)

³⁰ They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹ because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man^(B) is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him,^(C) and after three days^(D) he will rise.”^{(E) 32} But they did not understand what he meant^(F) and were afraid to ask him about it.

³³ They came to Capernaum.^(G) When he was in the house,^(H) he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.^(I)

³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”^(J)

³⁶ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms,^(K) he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”^(L)

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us^(M)

³⁸ “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”^(N)

³⁹ “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, ⁴⁰ for whoever is not against us is for us.^{(O) 41} Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.^(P)

Causing to Stumble

⁴² “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble,^(Q) it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.^{(R) 43} If your hand causes you to stumble,^(S) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,^(T) where the fire never goes out.^{(U) [44] [a] 45} And if your foot causes you to stumble,^(V) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.^{(W) [46] [b] 47} And if your eye causes you to stumble,^(X) pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,^{(Y) 48} where

⁴⁹ Everyone will be salted^(AA) with fire.

⁵⁰ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?^(AB) Have salt among yourselves,^(AC) and be at peace with each other.”^(AD)

Divorce^(AE)

10 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan.^(AF) Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.^(AG)

² Some Pharisees^(AH) came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

³ “What did Moses command you?” he replied.

⁴ They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”^(AI)

⁵ “It was because your hearts were hard^(AJ) that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. ⁶ “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’^{[d](AK) 7} ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,^{[e] 8} and the two will become one flesh.’^[f](AL) So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

¹⁰ When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. ¹¹ He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.^{(AM) 12} And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”^(AN)

Psalm 44^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.^[b]