From Cloud and Fire to Complaint and Doubt

1. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2. “Make two trumpets of silver. You shall make them of beaten work. You shall use them for the calling of the congregation, and for the journeying of the camps. 3. When they blow them, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 4. If they blow just one, then the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. 5. When you blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side shall go forward. 6. When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side shall go forward. They shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 7. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm. 8. “The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. This shall be to you for a statute forever throughout your generations. 9. When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets. Then you will be remembered before Yahweh your God, and you will be saved from your enemies. 10. “Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be to you for a memorial before your God. I am Yahweh your God.” 11. In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony. 12. The children of Israel went forward according to their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud stayed in the wilderness of Paran. 13. They first went forward according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses. 14. First, the standard of the camp of the children of Judah went forward according to their armies. Nahshon the son of Amminadab was over his army. 15. Nethanel the son of Zuar was over the army of the tribe of the children of Issachar. 16. Eliab the son of Helon was over the army of the tribe of the children of Zebulun. 17. The tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who bore the tabernacle, went forward. 18. The standard of the camp of Reuben went forward according to their armies. Elizur the son of Shedeur was over his army. 19. Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai was over the army of the tribe of the children of Simeon. 20. Eliasaph the son of Deuel was over the army of the tribe of the children of Gad. 21. The Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary. The others set up the tabernacle before they arrived. 22. The standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies. Elishama the son of Ammihud was over his army. 23. Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur was over the army of the tribe of the children of Manasseh. 24. Abidan the son of Gideoni was over the army of the tribe of the children of Benjamin. 25. The standard of the camp of the children of Dan, which was the rear guard of all the camps, set forward according to their armies. Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai was over his army. 26. Pagiel the son of Ochran was over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher. 27. Ahira the son of Enan was over the army of the tribe of the children of Naphtali. 28. Thus were the travels of the children of Israel according to their armies; and they went forward. 29. Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are journeying to the place of which Yahweh said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well; for Yahweh has spoken good concerning Israel.” 30. He said to him, “I will not go; but I will depart to my own land, and to my relatives.” 31. He said, “Don’t leave us, please; because you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. 32. It shall be, if you go with us, yes, it shall be, that whatever good Yahweh does to us, we will do the same to you.” 33. They set forward from the Mount of Yahweh three days’ journey. The ark of Yahweh’s covenant went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them. 34. The cloud of Yahweh was over them by day, when they set forward from the camp. 35. When the ark went forward, Moses said, “Rise up, Yahweh, and let your enemies be scattered! Let those who hate you flee before you!” 36. When it rested, he said, “Return, Yahweh, to the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.” 1. The people were complaining in the ears of Yahweh. When Yahweh heard it, his anger burned; and Yahweh’s fire burned among them, and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. 2. The people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed to Yahweh, and the fire abated. 3. The name of that place was called Taberah, because Yahweh’s fire burned among them. 4. The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? 5. We remember the fish, which we ate in Egypt for nothing; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic; 6. but now we have lost our appetite. There is nothing at all except this manna to look at.” 7. The manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like the appearance of bdellium. 8. The people went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it. Its taste was like the taste of fresh oil. 9. When the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it. 10. Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent; and Yahweh’s anger burned greatly; and Moses was displeased. 11. Moses said to Yahweh, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why haven’t I found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? 12. Have I conceived all this people? Have I brought them out, that you should tell me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which you swore to their fathers?’ 13. Where could I get meat to give all these people? For they weep before me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ 14. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. 15. If you treat me this way, please kill me right now, if I have found favor in your sight; and don’t let me see my wretchedness.” 16. Yahweh said to Moses, “Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17. I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit which is on you, and will put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you don’t bear it yourself alone. 18. “Say to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, and you will eat meat; for you have wept in the ears of Yahweh, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore Yahweh will give you meat, and you will eat. 19. You will not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days, 20. but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils, and it is loathsome to you; because you have rejected Yahweh who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”’” 21. Moses said, “The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand men on foot; and you have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month.’ 22. Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to be sufficient for them? Shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to be sufficient for them?” 23. Yahweh said to Moses, “Has Yahweh’s hand grown short? Now you will see whether my word will happen to you or not.” 24. Moses went out, and told the people Yahweh’s words; and he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them around the Tent. 25. Yahweh came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did so no more. 26. But two men remained in the camp. The name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the Spirit rested on them; and they were of those who were written, but had not gone out to the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp. 27. A young man ran, and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!” 28. Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered, “My lord Moses, forbid them!” 29. Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all Yahweh’s people were prophets, that Yahweh would put his Spirit on them!” 30. Moses went into the camp, he and the elders of Israel. 31. A wind from Yahweh went out and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, about a day’s journey on this side, and a day’s journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the earth. 32. The people rose up all that day, and all of that night, and all the next day, and gathered the quails. He who gathered least gathered ten homers; and they spread them all out for themselves around the camp. 33. While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, Yahweh’s anger burned against the people, and Yahweh struck the people with a very great plague. 34. The name of that place was called Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who lusted. 35. From Kibroth Hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth; and they stayed at Hazeroth. 1. Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman. 2. They said, “Has Yahweh indeed spoken only with Moses? Hasn’t he spoken also with us?” And Yahweh heard it. 3. Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the surface of the earth. 4. Yahweh spoke suddenly to Moses, to Aaron, and to Miriam, “You three come out to the Tent of Meeting!” The three of them came out. 5. Yahweh came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward. 6. He said, “Now hear my words. If there is a prophet among you, I, Yahweh, will make myself known to him in a vision. I will speak with him in a dream. 7. My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house. 8. With him, I will speak mouth to mouth, even plainly, and not in riddles; and he shall see Yahweh’s form. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?” 9. Yahweh’s anger burned against them; and he departed. 10. The cloud departed from over the Tent; and behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. Aaron looked at Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. 11. Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, please don’t count this sin against us, in which we have done foolishly, and in which we have sinned. 12. Let her not, I pray, be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb.” 13. Moses cried to Yahweh, saying, “Heal her, God, I beg you!” 14. Yahweh said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, shouldn’t she be ashamed seven days? Let her be shut up outside of the camp seven days, and after that she shall be brought in again.” 15. Miriam was shut up outside of the camp seven days, and the people didn’t travel until Miriam was brought in again. 16. Afterward the people traveled from Hazeroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Paran.

1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, 2. to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3. I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day 4. longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5. having been reminded of the sincere faith that is in you; which lived first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and, I am persuaded, in you also. 6. For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7. For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. 8. Therefore don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but endure hardship for the Good News according to the power of God, 9. who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, 10. but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Good News. 11. For this, I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12. For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day. 13. Hold the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14. That good thing which was committed to you, guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. 15. This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16. May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, 17. but when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently, and found me 18. (the Lord grant to him to find the Lord’s mercy in that day); and in how many things he served at Ephesus, you know very well. 1. You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2. The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3. You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4. No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier. 5. Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he isn’t crowned unless he has competed by the rules. 6. The farmer who labors must be the first to get a share of the crops. 7. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. 8. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the offspring of David, according to my Good News, 9. in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained. 10. Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones’ sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11. This saying is trustworthy: “For if we died with him, we will also live with him. 12. If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us. 13. If we are faithless, he remains faithful. For he can’t deny himself.” 14. Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they don’t argue about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear. 15. Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth. 16. But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness, 17. and those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18. men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of some. 19. However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.” 20. Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor, and some for dishonor. 21. If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every good work. 22. Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23. But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife. 24. The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient, 25. in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth, 26. and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to his will. 1. But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come. 2. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3. without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good, 4. traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5. holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also. 6. For some of these are people who creep into houses, and take captive gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7. always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8. Even as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these also oppose the truth; men corrupted in mind, who concerning the faith are rejected. 9. But they will proceed no further. For their folly will be evident to all men, as theirs also came to be. 10. But you did follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, 11. persecutions, and sufferings: those things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions. The Lord delivered me out of them all. 12. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14. But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. 15. From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. 16. Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, 17. that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 1. I command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom: 2. preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching. 3. For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts; 4. and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables. 5. But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry. 6. For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come. 7. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. 8. From now on, there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing. 9. Be diligent to come to me soon, 10. for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. 12. But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13. Bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus when you come, and the books, especially the parchments. 14. Alexander, the coppersmith, did much evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds, 15. of whom you also must beware; for he greatly opposed our words. 16. At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them. 17. But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 19. Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus. 20. Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick. 21. Be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus salutes you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers. 22. The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

1. Yahweh, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you. 2. Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry. 3. For my soul is full of troubles. My life draws near to Sheol. 4. I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help, 5. set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand. 6. You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. 7. Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. Selah. 8. You have taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I can’t escape. 9. My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, Yahweh. I have spread out my hands to you. 10. Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? Selah. 11. Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction? 12. Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? 13. But to you, Yahweh, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you. 14. Yahweh, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me? 15. I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted. 16. Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off. 17. They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me. 18. You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.