The Covenant Confirmed

24 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron,^(A) Nadab and Abihu,^(B) and seventy of the elders^(C) of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, ² but Moses alone is to approach^(D) the Lord; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him.”

³ When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws,^(E) they responded with one voice, “Everything the Lord has said we will do.”^{(F) 4} Moses then wrote^(G) down everything the Lord had said.

He got up early the next morning and built an altar^(H) at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars^(I) representing the twelve tribes of Israel. ⁵ Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings^(J) and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings^(K) to the Lord. ⁶ Moses^(L) took half of the blood^(M) and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed^(N) against the altar. ⁷ Then he took the Book of the Covenant^(O) and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”^(P)

⁸ Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people^(Q) and said, “This is the blood of the covenant^(R) that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

⁹ Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders^(S) of Israel went up ¹⁰ and saw^(T) the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli,^(U) as bright blue as the sky.^{(V) 11} But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw^(W) God, and they ate and drank.^(X)

¹² The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone^(Y) with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”

¹³ Then Moses set out with Joshua^(Z) his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain^(AA) of God. ¹⁴ He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur^(AB) are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute^(AC) can go to them.”

¹⁵ When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud^(AD) covered it, ¹⁶ and the glory^(AE) of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai.^(AF) For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud.^{(AG) 17} To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire^(AH) on top of the mountain. ¹⁸ Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty^(AI) days and forty nights.^(AJ)

Offerings for the Tabernacle^(AK)

25 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts^(AL) them to give. ³ These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; ⁴ blue, purple and scarlet yarn^(AM) and fine linen; goat hair; ⁵ ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather^[a];^(AN) acacia wood;^{(AO) 6} olive oil^(AP) for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;^{(AQ) 7} and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod^(AR) and breastpiece.^(AS)

⁸ “Then have them make a sanctuary^(AT) for me, and I will dwell^(AU) among them. ⁹ Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern^(AV) I will show you.

The Ark^(AW)

¹⁰ “Have them make an ark^[b](AX) of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.^{[c] 11} Overlay^(AY) it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. ¹² Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings^(AZ) on one side and two rings on the other. ¹³ Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.^{(BA) 14} Insert the poles^(BB) into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. ¹⁵ The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed.^{(BC) 16} Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law,^(BD) which I will give you.

¹⁷ “Make an atonement cover^(BE) of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. ¹⁸ And make two cherubim^(BF) out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. ¹⁹ Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. ²⁰ The cherubim^(BG) are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing^(BH) the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. ²¹ Place the cover on top of the ark^(BI) and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law^(BJ) that I will give you. ²² There, above the cover between the two cherubim^(BK) that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet^(BL) with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.^(BM)

The Table^(BN)

²³ “Make a table^(BO) of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high.^{[d] 24} Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it. ²⁵ Also make around it a rim a handbreadth^[e] wide and put a gold molding on the rim. ²⁶ Make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are. ²⁷ The rings are to be close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. ²⁸ Make the poles of acacia wood, overlay them with gold^(BP) and carry the table with them. ²⁹ And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings.^{(BQ) 30} Put the bread of the Presence^(BR) on this table to be before me at all times.

The Lampstand^(BS)

³¹ “Make a lampstand^(BT) of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. ³² Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. ³³ Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. ³⁴ And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. ³⁵ One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. ³⁶ The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.^(BU)

³⁷ “Then make its seven lamps^(BV) and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. ³⁸ Its wick trimmers and trays^(BW) are to be of pure gold. ³⁹ A talent^[f] of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. ⁴⁰ See that you make them according to the pattern^(BX) shown you on the mountain.

Psalm 37^[a]

Of David.

Psalm 38^[f]

A psalm of David. A petition.

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle^(A) and set apart^(B) for the gospel of God^(C)— ² the gospel he promised beforehand^(D) through his prophets^(E) in the Holy Scriptures^{(F) 3} regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life^[a](G) was a descendant of David,^{(H) 4} and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power^[b](I) by his resurrection from the dead:^(J) Jesus Christ our Lord.^{(K) 5} Through him we received grace^(L) and apostleship to call all the Gentiles^(M) to the obedience that comes from^[c] faith^(N) for his name’s sake. ⁶ And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.^(O)

⁷ To all in Rome who are loved by God^(P) and called to be his holy people:^(Q)

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.^(R)

Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome

⁸ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you,^(S) because your faith is being reported all over the world.^{(T) 9} God, whom I serve^(U) in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness^(V) how constantly I remember you ¹⁰ in my prayers at all times;^(W) and I pray that now at last by God’s will^(X) the way may be opened for me to come to you.^(Y)

¹¹ I long to see you^(Z) so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift^(AA) to make you strong— ¹² that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. ¹³ I do not want you to be unaware,^(AB) brothers and sisters,^[d](AC) that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now)^(AD) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

¹⁴ I am obligated^(AE) both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.^(AF)

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel,^(AG) because it is the power of God^(AH) that brings salvation to everyone who believes:^(AI) first to the Jew,^(AJ) then to the Gentile.^{(AK) 17} For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed^(AL)—a righteousness that is by faith^(AM) from first to last,^[e] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”^[f](AN)

God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity

¹⁸ The wrath of God^(AO) is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.^{(AP) 20} For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,^(AQ) so that people are without excuse.^(AR)

²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.^{(AS) 22} Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools^{(AT) 23} and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images^(AU) made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

²⁴ Therefore God gave them over^(AV) in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.^{(AW) 25} They exchanged the truth about God for a lie,^(AX) and worshiped and served created things^(AY) rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.^(AZ) Amen.^(BA)

²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over^(BB) to shameful lusts.^(BC) Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.^{(BD) 27} In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.^(BE)

²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over^(BF) to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,^{(BG) 30} slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;^{(BH) 31} they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love,^(BI) no mercy. ³² Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death,^(BJ) they not only continue to do these very things but also approve^(BK) of those who practice them.

God’s Righteous Judgment

2 You, therefore, have no excuse,^(BL) you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.^{(BM) 2} Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. ³ So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? ⁴ Or do you show contempt for the riches^(BN) of his kindness,^(BO) forbearance^(BP) and patience,^(BQ) not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?^(BR)

⁵ But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath^(BS), when his righteous judgment^(BT) will be revealed. ⁶ God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”^{[g](BU) 7} To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor^(BV) and immortality,^(BW) he will give eternal life.^{(BX) 8} But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil,^(BY) there will be wrath and anger.^{(BZ) 9} There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil:^(CA) first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;^{(CB) 10} but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.^{(CC) 11} For God does not show favoritism.^(CD)

¹² All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law^(CE) will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey^(CF) the law who will be declared righteous. ¹⁴ (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law,^(CG) they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵ They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) ¹⁶ This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets^(CH) through Jesus Christ,^(CI) as my gospel^(CJ) declares.

The Jews and the Law

¹⁷ Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;^{(CK) 18} if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; ¹⁹ if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— ²¹ you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?^{(CL) 22} You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?^{(CM) 23} You who boast in the law,^(CN) do you dishonor God by breaking the law? ²⁴ As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”^[h](CO)

²⁵ Circumcision has value if you observe the law,^(CP) but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.^{(CQ) 26} So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements,^(CR) will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?^{(CS) 27} The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you^(CT) who, even though you have the^[i] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

²⁸ A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly,^(CU) nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.^{(CV) 29} No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart,^(CW) by the Spirit,^(CX) not by the written code.^(CY) Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.^(CZ)