Psalm 41^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Psalm 52^[a]

For the director of music. A maskil^[b] of David. When Doeg the Edomite^(A) had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”

Psalm 44^[a]

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

The Golden Calf

32 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain,^(A) they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods^[a] who will go before^(B) us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”^(C)

² Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings^(D) that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” ³ So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. ⁴ He took what they handed him and made it into an idol^(E) cast in the shape of a calf,^(F) fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,^[b](G) Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”^(H)

⁵ When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival^(I) to the Lord.” ⁶ So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings.^(J) Afterward they sat down to eat and drink^(K) and got up to indulge in revelry.^(L)

⁷ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt,^(M) have become corrupt.^{(N) 8} They have been quick to turn away^(O) from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol^(P) cast in the shape of a calf.^(Q) They have bowed down to it and sacrificed^(R) to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’^(S)

⁹ “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked^(T) people. ¹⁰ Now leave me alone^(U) so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy^(V) them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”^(W)

¹¹ But Moses sought the favor^(X) of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?^{(Y) 12} Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’?^(Z) Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster^(AA) on your people. ¹³ Remember^(AB) your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self:^(AC) ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars^(AD) in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land^(AE) I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” ¹⁴ Then the Lord relented^(AF) and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

¹⁵ Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law^(AG) in his hands.^(AH) They were inscribed^(AI) on both sides, front and back. ¹⁶ The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.^(AJ)

¹⁷ When Joshua^(AK) heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “There is the sound of war in the camp.”

¹⁸ Moses replied:

¹⁹ When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf^(AL) and the dancing,^(AM) his anger burned^(AN) and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces^(AO) at the foot of the mountain. ²⁰ And he took the calf the people had made and burned^(AP) it in the fire; then he ground it to powder,^(AQ) scattered it on the water^(AR) and made the Israelites drink it.

Instructions for Christian Households^(A)

¹⁸ Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands,^(B) as is fitting in the Lord.

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

²¹ Fathers,^[a] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

²² Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance^(C) from the Lord as a reward.^(D) It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ²⁵ Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.^(E)

4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair,^(F) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

² Devote yourselves to prayer,^(G) being watchful and thankful. ³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door^(H) for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery^(I) of Christ, for which I am in chains.^{(J) 4} Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵ Be wise^(K) in the way you act toward outsiders;^(L) make the most of every opportunity.^{(M) 6} Let your conversation be always full of grace,^(N) seasoned with salt,^(O) so that you may know how to answer everyone.^(P)

Final Greetings

⁷ Tychicus^(Q) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant^[b](R) in the Lord. ⁸ I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our^[c] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.^{(S) 9} He is coming with Onesimus,^(T) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.^(U) They will tell you everything that is happening here.

¹⁰ My fellow prisoner Aristarchus^(V) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,^(W) the cousin of Barnabas.^(X) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) ¹¹ Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews^[d] among my co-workers^(Y) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. ¹² Epaphras,^(Z) who is one of you^(AA) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,^(AB) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature^(AC) and fully assured. ¹³ I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea^(AD) and Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Our dear friend Luke,^(AE) the doctor, and Demas^(AF) send greetings. ¹⁵ Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,^(AG) and to Nympha and the church in her house.^(AH)

¹⁶ After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read^(AI) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

¹⁷ Tell Archippus:^(AJ) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”^(AK)

¹⁸ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.^(AL) Remember^(AM) my chains.^(AN) Grace be with you.^(AO)

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes^(A)

He said: