The People Rebel
1 rThen all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the people of Israel sgrumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, t“Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3 uWhy is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and vour little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to one another, w“Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
5 Then Moses and Aaron xfell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun yand Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, z“The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not arebel against the Lord. And bdo not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” 10 Then call the congregation said to dstone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord eappeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.
11 fAnd the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people gdespise me? And how long will they hnot believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? 12 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and iI will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”
Moses Intercedes for the People
13 jBut Moses said to the Lord, “Then the kEgyptians will hear of it, for you brought up this people in your might from among them, 14 and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O Lord, are lin the midst of this people. For you, O Lord, are seen mface to face, and your ncloud stands over them and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say, 16 ‘It is obecause the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.’ 17 And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, 18 p‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, qvisiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ 19 rPlease pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.”
God Promises Judgment
20 Then the Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. 21 But truly, as I live, and as sall the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, 22 tnone of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have uput me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. 24 vBut my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. 25 Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.”
The Rich Ruler
18 jAnd a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, kwhat must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: l‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. mSell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, nfollow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have owealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, p“What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “See, qwe have rleft our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or swife or brothers1 or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time
31 tAnd taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is uwritten about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the vthird day he will rise.” 34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they wdid not grasp what was said.
