Crossing the Read Sea

Galatians 3:25-29

Children of God through Faith

25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.

26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 1

1 He called out to Moses. God spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, instructing him to address the people.

2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When a man from among you brings a voluntary ascent-offering to God, you must bring your offering only from animals, i.e., from cattle or from the flock.

3 If his sacrifice is an ascent-offering from cattle, he must bring an unblemished male. He must bring it willingly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, before God.

4 He must lean his hand upon the head of the ascent-offering, and it will be accepted for him to atone for him.

5 He must slaughter the bull before God. Aaron’s sons, the priests, must bring the blood to the Altar and dash the blood in an encircling manner onto the Altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

6 He must then skin the ascent-offering and cut it up into its constituent sections.

7 The descendants of Aaron the priest must make a fire on the Altar and arrange wood on the fire.

8 Aaron’s descendants, the priests, must then arrange the sections, plus the head and the fat, on top of the wood that is on the fire on the Altar.

9 The priest must wash its innards and its legs with water. The priest must burn it all up on the Altar, as an ascent-offering and a fire-offering pleasing to God.

10 If his offering is brought from the flock—from sheep or from goats—as an ascent-offering, he must sacrifice an unblemished male.

11 He must slaughter it next to the north side of the Altar, before God. Aaron’s descendants, the priests, must dash its blood in an encircling manner onto the Altar.

12 The priest must cut it up into its constituent sections, including its head and its fat. The priest must arrange them on top of the wood that is on the fire on the Altar.

13 The priest must wash the innards and the legs with water. The priest must offer it all up, burning it up on the Altar, as an ascent-offering and a fire-offering pleasing to God

Acts 10:9-15, 30-35

God Accepts Us All

9 The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”

14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.”

15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.

17 Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, 18 they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.

19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”

21 So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”

22 They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” 23 So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

24 They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” 27 So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.

28 Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. 29 So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”

30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. 31 He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! 32 Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.”

The Gentiles Hear the Good News

34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 1

14 If his sacrifice to God is an ascent-offering from fowl, he must bring one of the turtledoves or the young pigeons.

15 The priest must bring it to the Altar, partially nip off its head, and burn up the head on the Altar. Its blood must be made to exude onto the wall of the Altar.

16 He must remove its crop along with its entrails, and discard it next to the Altar on the east side, at the place of the ashes.

17 He must tear it open with its feathers intact, but he must not tear it apart completely. The priest must then burn it up on the Altar, on top of the wood on the fire, as an ascent-offering and a fire-offering pleasing to God.

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 2

1 If a person brings an unspecified grain-offering to God, his offering must be of fine flour. He must pour oil over it and place frankincense upon it.

2 He must bring it to Aaron’s descendants, the priests. From there, the priest must scoop out a fistful of its fine flour and oil, apart from all its frankincense. The priest must burn up its memorial portion on the Altar, as a fire-offering pleasing to God.

3 The remainder of the grain-offering will belong to Aaron and his sons. It is an offering of superior holiness from the fire-offerings of God.

4 If you bring a grain-offering baked in an oven, it must consist of unleavened loaves of fine flour mixed with oil, or of flat unleavened cakes smeared with oil.

5 If a grain-offering in a frying pan is your sacrifice, it must be of fine flour mixed with oil. It must be unleavened.

6 Break it into pieces. You must pour oil over it. It is a grain-offering

John 18:28-38

A Kingdom Not of This World

28 Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor. His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover. 29 So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?”

30 “We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted.

31 “Then take him away and judge him by your own law,” Pilate told them.

“Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied. 32 (This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way he would die.)

33 Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him.

34 Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?”

36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”

37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?”

Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime.

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 2

7 If your sacrifice is a grain-offering in a deep frying pan, it must be made of fine flour with oil.

8 You must bring to God the grain-offering that will be made from these preparations of flour. He must bring it to the priest, and he must bring it to the Altar.

9 The priest must lift out the memorial fistful from the grain-offering and burn it up on the Altar, as a fire-offering pleasing to God.

10 The remainder of the grain-offering will belong to Aaron and his sons. It is an offering of superior holiness from the fire-offerings of God.

11 No grain-offering that you sacrifice to God may be made out of anything leavened, for you must not burn up any leavening agents or any sweet fruits as a fire-offering to God.

12 Of them, you must bring to God an offering of the first of your produce, but they must not ascend the Altar to please God.

13 You must salt every one of your grain-offering sacrifices. You must not omit the salt of your God’s covenant from being placed upon your grain-offerings. You must offer up salt on all your sacrifices.

14 When you bring a grain-offering of first grains to God, you must bring your first grain-offering as soon as it ripens, roasted over the fire as ground full husks.

15 You must put oil on it and place frankincense upon it, for it is a grain-offering.

16 The priest must burn up its memorial fistful from its ground flour and its oil, along with all its frankincense, as a fire-offering to God.

Numbers 6:22-26

The Lord’s Peace

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:

24 

‘May the Lord bless you

    and protect you.

25 

May the Lord smile on you

    and be gracious to you.

26 

May the Lord show you his favor

    and give you his peace.’

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 3

1 If his sacrifice is a peace-promoting feast-offering, if he brings it from cattle, whether male or female, he must bring it unblemished before God.

2 He must lean his hand upon the head of his sacrifice and slaughter it outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s descendants who are priests must dash the blood in an encircling manner onto the Altar.

3 He must bring a fire-offering to God from the peace-promoting feast-offering, consisting of the fat covering the innards, all the fat that is on the innards,

4 the two kidneys, the fat that is on them and that is on the flanks; he must also remove the diaphragm, along with the kidneys and along with part of the liver.

5 Aaron’s descendants must burn it up on the Altar—after the daily morning ascent-offering is on top of the wood on the fire—as a fire-offering pleasing to God.

6 If his sacrifice is a peace-promoting feast-offering to God from the flock, whether male or female, he must bring it unblemished.

7 If he brings a sheep as his sacrifice, he must bring it before God.

8 He must lean his hand upon the head of his sacrifice and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s descendants must dash the blood in an encircling manner onto the Altar.

9 He must bring a fire-offering to God from the peace-promoting feast-offering, as follows: He must remove its choicest part: the entire tail, beginning at the kidneys; the fat covering the innards; all the fat that is on the innards;

10 the two kidneys along with the fat that is on them and that is on the flanks. He must remove the diaphragm, along with the kidneys and along with part of the liver.

11 The priest must burn it up on the Altar, as food for the fire, to God.

12 If his sacrifice is a goat, he must bring it before God.

13 He must lean his hand upon its head and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s descendants must dash the blood in an encircling manner onto the Altar.

14 He must bring from it his offering—a fire-offering to God—the fat covering the innards, all the fat that is on the innards,

15 the two kidneys along with the fat that is on them and that is on the flanks. He must remove the diaphragm, along with the kidneys and along with part of the liver.

16 The priest must burn them up on the Altar, as food for the fire, with the intention that it be pleasing to God. All fat belongs to God.

17 It is an eternal rule for all your generations, in all your habitations: you must consume neither any fat nor any blood.’”

Psalm 46

God Is Exalted among the Nations

For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.

1 

God is our refuge and strength,

    always ready to help in times of trouble.

2 

So we will not fear when earthquakes come

    and the mountains crumble into the sea.

3 

Let the oceans roar and foam.

    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude

4 

A river brings joy to the city of our God,

    the sacred home of the Most High.

5 

God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.

    From the very break of day, God will protect it.

6 

The nations are in chaos,

    and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,

    and the earth melts!

7 

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;

    the God of Israel is our fortress. 

8 

Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:

    See how he brings destruction upon the world.

9 

He causes wars to end throughout the earth.

    He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;

    he burns the shields with fire.

10 

“Be still, and know that I am God!

    I will be honored by every nation.

    I will be honored throughout the world.”

11 

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;

    the God of Israel is our fortress. 

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 4

1 God spoke to Moses, saying,

2 “Speak to the Israelites, saying: ‘If a person unintentionally transgresses any of the passive commandments of God, committing part of one of them,

3 if the anointed priest commits the same sin that implicates the supreme court of the people, he must bring, for his sin that he has committed, an unblemished young bull as a sin-offering to God.

4 He must bring the bull to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, before God. He must lean his hand upon the bull’s head and slaughter the bull before God.

5 The anointed priest must take some of the bull’s blood and bring it into the Tent of Meeting.

6 The priest must dip his finger into the blood and dash some of the blood seven times before God, toward the holy part of the Curtain.

7 The priest must place some of the blood on the protrusions of the incense Altar, which is inside the Tent of Meeting in front of God. He must pour all the rest of the bull’s blood onto the base of the Altar used for ascent-offerings, onto the side that faces the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

8 He must remove all the sin-offering bull’s fat from it: the fat covering the innards, all the fat that is on the innards,

9 the two kidneys, the fat that is on them and that is on the flanks; he must remove the diaphragm, along with the kidneys along with part of the liver.

10 Just as with the fat parts that are removed from the work-bull sacrificed as a peace-promoting feast-offering, the priest must burn them up on the Altar used for ascent-offerings.

11 Regarding the bull’s hide, all of its flesh, its head, its legs, its innards, and its waste matter,

12he must take the entire bull to a ritually undefiled place outside the camp, to the ash depository, and he must burn it up in the fire, on wood. It must be burned up in the ash depository.

13 If the supreme court of the entire community of Israel errs because a matter eluded ‘the eyes’ of the community, and the people transgress any of the passive commandments of God, thereby incurring guilt,

14 when the sin that they had committed is discovered, the community must bring a young bull as a sin-offering. They must bring it before the Tent of Meeting.

15 The elders of the community must lean their hands upon the bull’s head before God, and one of them or their representative must slaughter the bull before God.

16 The anointed priest must bring some of the bull’s blood into the Tent of Meeting.

17 The priest must dip his finger into the blood and dash it seven times before God, toward the Curtain.

18 He must place some of the blood on the protrusions of the Altar that is in the Tent of Meeting in front of God. He must pour all the rest of the blood onto the base of the Altar used for ascent-offerings, onto the side that faces the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

19 He must separate all its fat from it and burn it up on the Altar.

20 He must do to the bull just as he would do to the sin-offering bull. He must do this to it in order for the priest to atone for them so they may be forgiven.

21 He must take the bull outside the camp and burn it just as he would burn the first bull, for this is a sin-offering like that one, but for the entire community.

22 If a leader sins by unintentionally transgressing any of the passive commandments of God, his God, incurring guilt,

23 if the sin that he committed is made known to him, he must bring his offering, an unblemished male goat.

24 He must lean his hand upon the goat’s head and slaughter it in the place where he slaughters ascent-offerings, before God, as a sin-offering.

25 The priest must take some of the blood of the sin-offering with his finger, and place it on the four protrusions of the Altar used for ascent-offerings. He must pour the rest of its blood onto the base of the Altar used for ascent-offerings.

26 He must burn up all its fat on the Altar, just like the fat of the peace-promoting feast-offering. Thus the priest makes atonement for his sin so that he may be forgiven.

Amos 9:7-12

God Guides the Destiny of Nations

7

“Are you Israelites more important to me

    than the Ethiopians?” asks the Lord.

“I brought Israel out of Egypt,

    but I also brought the Philistines from Crete

    and led the Arameans out of Kir.

8 

“I, the Sovereign Lord,

    am watching this sinful nation of Israel.

I will destroy it

    from the face of the earth.

But I will never completely destroy the family of Israel,”

    says the Lord.

9 

“For I will give the command

    and will shake Israel along with the other nations

as grain is shaken in a sieve,

    yet not one true kernel will be lost.

10 

But all the sinners will die by the sword—

    all those who say, ‘Nothing bad will happen to us.’

A Promise of Restoration

11 

“In that day I will restore the fallen house of David.

    I will repair its damaged walls.

From the ruins I will rebuild it

    and restore its former glory.

12 

And Israel will possess what is left of Edom

    and all the nations I have called to be mine.”

The Lord has spoken,

    and he will do these things.

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 4

27 If a person—one of the people of the land—unintentionally commits a sin, by his transgressing any of the passive commandments of God, incurring guilt,

28 if his sin that he committed is made known to him, he must bring his sacrifice, an unblemished female goat, for his sin that he committed.

29 He must lean his hand on the sin-offering’s head and slaughter the sin-offering in the place where the ascent-offering is slaughtered.

30 The priest must take some of the blood with his finger and place it on the protrusions of the Altar used for ascent-offerings. He must pour all of its remaining blood onto the base of the Altar.

31 He must remove all of its fat, just as the fat would be removed from the peace-promoting feast-offering. The priest must burn it up on the Altar with the intention that it be pleasing to God. Thus the priest makes atonement for him so that he may be forgiven.

32 If he brings a sheep for his sin-offering, he must bring an unblemished female.

33 He must lean his hand upon the sin-offering’s head and slaughter it as a sin-offering in the place where he slaughters the ascent-offering.

34 The priest must take some of the blood of the sin-offering with his finger, and place it on the protrusions of the Altar used for ascent-offerings. He must pour all of its remaining blood onto the base of the Altar.

35 He must remove all its fat, just as the sheep’s fat is removed from the peace-promoting feast-offering. The priest must burn them up on the Altar, upon the fires on which to burn up the sacrifices offered up to God. Thus the priest makes atonement for him for his sin that he committed, so that he may be forgiven.

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 5

1 If a person sins by having heard a curse—being a witness by virtue of having seen or having known what happened—if he does not testify, he will bear the consequences of his transgression.

2 Or, if a person touches the carcass of any spiritually defiled animal, whether it be the carcass of a spiritually defiled wild animal, the carcass of a spiritually defiled domestic animal, or the carcass of a spiritually defiled crawling animal, but he did not know that he was defiled and ate consecrated food or entered the precincts of the Tabernacle, he incurs guilt.

3 Or, if someone touches a corpse (the basic form of ritual defilement imparted by a human) or some other form of ritual defilement that defiles him, through which he becomes ritually defiled, and he did not know this and ate consecrated food or entered the Tabernacle precincts, and he realizes, he incurs guilt.

4 Or, if a person swears, pronouncing with his lips his intention to harm himself or to do good to either himself or others; or regarding whether any event concerning which a man may make an assertion in an oath took place; and the details of the oath escape him and he violates his oath; or, he did not realize that swearing would obligate him to offer up a sacrifice, and he is later informed, he incurs guilt in one of these ways.

5 When someone incurs guilt in any one of these cases, he must confess the sin that he committed,

6 and bring to God, in acknowledgment of his guilt for his sin that he committed, a female from the flock—either a sheep or a goat—as a sin-offering. The priest must make atonement for the offender’s sin.

7 If he cannot afford a sheep, he must bring, in acknowledgment of his guilt for having sinned, two turtledoves or two young pigeons before God, one for a sin-offering and one for an ascent-offering.

8 He must bring them to the priest, who must first offer up the one that is designated as the sin-offering. He must nip off its head below the back of its head, but he must not sever the head completely.

9 He must dash some of the blood of the sin-offering on the wall of the Altar. The remainder of the blood must be pressed out onto the base of the Altar, with the intention that it be considered a sin-offering.

10 He must offer up the second one as an ascent-offering, in accordance with the ordinance. Thus the priest must make atonement for him, for his sin that he had committed, and he will be forgiven.

Revelation 21:21-27

Glory and Honor of the Nations

21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.

22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27 Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 5

11 If he cannot afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, he must bring as his sacrifice for his sin one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin-offering. He must not pour any oil over it, nor may he place any frankincense on it, for it is a sin-offering.

12 He must then bring it to the priest. The priest must scoop out a fistful as its memorial portion and burn it up on the Altar, upon the fires on which to burn up the sacrifices offered up to God, with the intention that it be considered a sin-offering.

13 Thus the priest will make atonement for his sin that he committed through any one of these rites, and he will be forgiven. The remainder of the flour will belong to the priest, just like the grain-offering.’”

14 God spoke to Moses, saying,

15 “If a person commits an act of misappropriation, sinning by unintentionally making personal use of the sacrificial portions that are sacred to God, he must bring as his guilt-offering to God an unblemished ram from the flock worth at least two silver shekels of the ‘sacred shekel’ type for a guilt-offering.

16 He must pay the monetary value of the sacred item with which he sinned, plus one-fifth of it, giving it to the priest. The priest must then make atonement for him through the ram of the guilt-offering, and he will be forgiven.

17 If a person sinned by transgressing one of the passive commandments of God, but he does not know for sure, he is considered guilty, and he will bear the consequences of his transgression.

18 He must bring an unblemished ram from the flock of the value prescribed above, as a guilt-offering, to the priest. The priest will make atonement for his unintentional sin that he might have committed but does not know for sure, and he will be forgiven.

19It is a guilt-offering; he has incurred guilt before God.”

20 God spoke to Moses, saying,

21 “If a person sins, acting unfaithfully to God by denying his fellow regarding a deposit, or that he had given money into his hand, or regarding an object taken by robbery, or that he withheld wages from his fellow,

22 or that he found a lost article and denied it—and he swore falsely regarding any one of all these cases whereby a man may sin,

23 when he acknowledges that he has sinned and admits that he is guilty, he must return the article that he had robbed, the funds that he had withheld, the article that had been deposited with him, the article that he had found,

24 or anything else regarding which he had sworn falsely. If he withheld money, he must pay for it by restoring the value of its principal and adding its fifths to it. He must give the money to its rightful owner on the day he repents of his guilt.

25 He must then bring his guilt-offering to God: an unblemished ram from the flock, of the specified value for a guilt-offering, to the priest.

26 The priest will make atonement for him before God and he will be forgiven for any one of all these cases whereby one may commit a sin, incurring guilt through it.”

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) Chapter 43

21 This people I formed for Myself; they shall recite My praise.

22 But you did not call Me, O Jacob, for you wearied of Me, O Israel.

23 You did not bring Me the lambs of your burnt offerings, nor did you honor Me with your sacrifices; neither did I overwork you with meal-offerings nor did I weary you with frankincense.

24 Neither did you purchase cane for Me with money, nor have you sated Me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities.

25 I, yea I erase your transgressions for My sake, and your sins I will not remember.

26 Remind Me, let us stand in judgment; you tell, in order that you be accounted just.

27 Your first father sinned, and your intercessors transgressed against Me.

28 And I profane the holy princes, and I deliver Jacob to destruction and Israel to revilings.

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) Chapter 44

1 And now, hearken, Jacob My servant, and Israel whom I have chosen.

2 So said the Lord your Maker, and He Who formed you from the womb shall aid you. Fear not, My servant Jacob, and Jeshurun whom I have chosen.

3 As I will pour water on the thirsty and running water on dry land, I will pour My spirit on your seed and My blessing on your offspring.

4 And they shall sprout among the grass like willows on rivulets of water.

5 This one shall say, "I am the Lord's," and this one shall call himself by the name of Jacob, and this one shall write [with] his hand, "To the Lord," and adopt the name Israel.

6 So said the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer the Lord of Hosts, "I am first and I am last, and besides Me there is no god.

7 And who will call [that he is] like Me and will tell it and arrange it for Me, since My placing the ancient people, and the signs and those that will come, let them tell for themselves.

8 Fear not and be not dismayed; did I not let you hear it from then, and I told [it] and you are My witnesses; is there a god besides Me? And there is no rock I did not know.

9 Those who form idols are all of them vanity, and their treasures are of no avail, and they are their witnesses; they neither see nor hear, nor do they know, so that they be ashamed.

10 Who formed a god or molded an image, being of no avail?

11 Behold, all his colleagues shall be ashamed, and they are smiths-of man. Let all of them gather, let them stand, they shall fear, they shall be ashamed together.

12 The ironsmith [makes] an axe, and he works with coal, and with sledge hammers he fashions it; and he made it with his strong arm; yea he is hungry, and he has no strength, he did not drink water and he becomes faint.

13 The carpenter stretched out a line, he beautifies it with a saw; he fixes it with planes, and with a compass he rounds it, and he made it in the likeness of a man, like the beauty of man to sit [in] the house.

14 To hew for himself cedars, and he took an ilex and an oak and he reenforced it with forest trees; he planted a sapling, and rain makes it grow.

15 And it was for man to ignite, and he took from them and warmed himself; he even heated [the oven] and baked bread; he even made a god and prostrated himself, he made a graven image and bowed to them.

16 Half of it he burnt with fire, on half of it he ate meat, he roasted a roast and became sated; he even warmed himself and said, "Aha, I am warm, I see fire."

17 And what is left over from it he made for a god, for his graven image; he kneels to it and prostrates himself and prays to it, and he says, "Save me, for you are my god."

18 Neither do they know nor do they understand, for their eyes are bedaubed from seeing, their hearts from understanding.

19 And he does not give it thought, and he has neither knowledge nor understanding to say, "Half of it I burnt with fire, and I even baked bread on its coals, I roasted meat and ate. And what was left over from it, shall I make for an abomination, shall I bow to rotten wood?"

20 [To] a provider [made] of ashes, a deceived heart has perverted him, and he shall not save his soul, and he shall not say, "Is there not falsehood in my right hand?"

21 Remember these, O Jacob; and Israel, for you are My servant; I formed you that you be a servant to Me, Israel, do not forget Me.

22 I erased your transgressions like a thick cloud, and like a cloud have I erased your sins; return to Me for I have redeemed you.

23 Sing, ye heavens, for the Lord has done [this], shout, ye lowest parts of the earth; ye mountains, burst out in song, the forest and all trees therein; for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and with Israel shall He be glorified.