Faith Fails at the Promised Land's Door

1. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2. “Send men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel. Of every tribe of their fathers, you shall send a man, every one a prince among them.” 3. Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran according to the commandment of Yahweh. All of them were men who were heads of the children of Israel. 4. These were their names: Of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur. 5. Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori. 6. Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 7. Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph. 8. Of the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun. 9. Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu. 10. Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi. 11. Of the tribe of Joseph, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi. 12. Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli. 13. Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael. 14. Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi. 15. Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi. 16. These are the names of the men who Moses sent to spy out the land. Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua. 17. Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way by the South, and go up into the hill country. 18. See the land, what it is; and the people who dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many; 19. and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in camps, or in strongholds; 20. and what the land is, whether it is fat or lean, whether there is wood therein, or not. Be courageous, and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the time of the first-ripe grapes. 21. So they went up, and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, to the entrance of Hamath. 22. They went up by the South, and came to Hebron; and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23. They came to the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it on a staff between two. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs. 24. That place was called the valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster which the children of Israel cut down from there. 25. They returned from spying out the land at the end of forty days. 26. They went and came to Moses, to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, to the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word to them and to all the congregation. They showed them the fruit of the land. 27. They told him, and said, “We came to the land where you sent us. Surely it flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28. However the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. Moreover, we saw the children of Anak there. 29. Amalek dwells in the land of the South. The Hittite, the Jebusite, and the Amorite dwell in the hill country. The Canaanite dwells by the sea, and along the side of the Jordan.” 30. Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it!” 31. But the men who went up with him said, “We aren’t able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.” 32. They brought up an evil report of the land which they had spied out to the children of Israel, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that eats up its inhabitants; and all the people who we saw in it are men of great stature. 33. There we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim. We were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” 1. All the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 2. All the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “We wish that we had died in the land of Egypt, or that we had died in this wilderness! 3. Why does Yahweh bring us to this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be captured or killed! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return into Egypt?” 4. They said to one another, “Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.” 5. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. 6. Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes. 7. They spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceeding good land. 8. If Yahweh delights in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it to us; a land which flows with milk and honey. 9. Only don’t rebel against Yahweh, neither fear the people of the land; for they are bread for us. Their defense is removed from over them, and Yahweh is with us. Don’t fear them.” 10. But all the congregation threatened to stone them with stones. Yahweh’s glory appeared in the Tent of Meeting to all the children of Israel. 11. Yahweh said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? and how long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have worked among them? 12. I will strike them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.” 13. Moses said to Yahweh, “Then the Egyptians will hear it; for you brought up this people in your might from among them. 14. They will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you Yahweh are among this people; for you Yahweh are seen face to face, and your cloud 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 killed this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying, 16. ‘Because Yahweh was not able to bring this people into the land which he swore to them, therefore he has slain them in the wilderness.’ 17. Now please let the power of the Lord be great, according as you have spoken, saying, 18. ‘Yahweh is slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, forgiving iniquity and disobedience; and he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation.’ 19. Please pardon the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your loving kindness, and just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” 20. Yahweh said, “I have pardoned according to your word: 21. but in very deed, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with Yahweh’s glory; 22. because all those men who have seen my glory, and my signs, which I worked in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have tempted me these ten times, and have not listened to my voice; 23. surely they shall not see the land which I swore to their fathers, neither shall any of those who despised me see it. 24. But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and has followed me fully, him I will bring into the land into which he went. His offspring shall possess it. 25. Since the Amalekite and the Canaanite dwell in the valley, tomorrow turn, and go into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.” 26. Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 27. “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, that murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. 28. Tell them, ‘As I live, says Yahweh, surely as you have spoken in my ears, so will I do to you. 29. Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness; and all who were counted of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against me, 30. surely you shall not come into the land, concerning which I swore that I would make you dwell therein, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31. But your little ones, that you said should be captured or killed, them I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have rejected. 32. But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. 33. Your children shall be wanderers in the wilderness forty years, and shall bear your prostitution, until your dead bodies are consumed in the wilderness. 34. After the number of the days in which you spied out the land, even forty days, for every day a year, you will bear your iniquities, even forty years, and you will know my alienation.’ 35. I, Yahweh, have spoken. I will surely do this to all this evil congregation, who are gathered together against me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.” 36. The men, whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up an evil report against the land, 37. even those men who brought up an evil report of the land, died by the plague before Yahweh. 38. But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, remained alive of those men who went to spy out the land. 39. Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly. 40. They rose up early in the morning, and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, “Behold, we are here, and will go up to the place which Yahweh has promised: for we have sinned.” 41. Moses said, “Why now do you disobey the commandment of Yahweh, since it shall not prosper? 42. Don’t go up, for Yahweh isn’t among you; that way you won’t be struck down before your enemies. 43. For there the Amalekite and the Canaanite are before you, and you will fall by the sword, because you turned back from following Yahweh, therefore Yahweh will not be with you.” 44. But they presumed to go up to the top of the mountain. Nevertheless, the ark of Yahweh’s covenant and Moses didn’t depart out of the camp. 45. Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites who lived in that mountain, and struck them and beat them down, even to Hormah. 1. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2. “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you have come into the land of your habitations, which I give to you, 3. and will make an offering by fire to Yahweh, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or as a freewill offering, or in your set feasts, to make a pleasant aroma to Yahweh, of the herd, or of the flock; 4. then he who offers his offering shall offer to Yahweh a meal offering of one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the fourth part of a hin of oil. 5. You shall prepare wine for the drink offering, the fourth part of a hin, with the burnt offering, or for the sacrifice, for each lamb. 6. “‘Or for a ram, you shall prepare for a meal offering two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the third part of a hin of oil; 7. and for the drink offering you shall offer the third part of a hin of wine, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh. 8. When you prepare a bull for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or for peace offerings to Yahweh; 9. then shall he offer with the bull a meal offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil: 10. and you shall offer for the drink offering half a hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh. 11. Thus shall it be done for each bull, or for each ram, or for each of the male lambs, or of the young goats. 12. According to the number that you shall prepare, so you shall do to everyone according to their number. 13. “‘All who are native-born shall do these things in this way, in offering an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh. 14. If a stranger lives as a foreigner with you, or whoever may be among you throughout your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh; as you do, so he shall do. 15. For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner, a statute forever throughout your generations. As you are, so shall the foreigner be before Yahweh. 16. One law and one ordinance shall be for you, and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner with you.’” 17. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 18. “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you come into the land where I bring you, 19. then it shall be that when you eat of the bread of the land, you shall offer up a wave offering to Yahweh. 20. Of the first of your dough you shall offer up a cake for a wave offering. As the wave offering of the threshing floor, so you shall heave it. 21. Of the first of your dough, you shall give to Yahweh a wave offering throughout your generations. 22. “‘When you err, and don’t observe all these commandments, which Yahweh has spoken to Moses, 23. even all that Yahweh has commanded you by Moses, from the day that Yahweh gave commandment, and onward throughout your generations; 24. then it shall be, if it was done unwittingly, without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bull for a burnt offering, for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh, with its meal offering, and its drink offering, according to the ordinance, and one male goat for a sin offering. 25. The priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and they shall be forgiven; for it was an error, and they have brought their offering, an offering made by fire to Yahweh, and their sin offering before Yahweh, for their error. 26. All the congregation of the children of Israel shall be forgiven, as well as the stranger who lives as a foreigner among them; for with regard to all the people, it was done unwittingly. 27. “‘If one person sins unwittingly, then he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. 28. The priest shall make atonement for the soul who errs, when he sins unwittingly before Yahweh, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven. 29. You shall have one law for him who does anything unwittingly, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner among them. 30. “‘But the soul who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native-born or a foreigner, the same blasphemes Yahweh. That soul shall be cut off from among his people. 31. Because he has despised Yahweh’s word, and has broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off. His iniquity shall be on him.’” 32. While the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33. Those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. 34. They put him in custody, because it had not been declared what should be done to him. 35. Yahweh said to Moses, “The man shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him with stones outside of the camp.” 36. All the congregation brought him outside of the camp, and stoned him to death with stones, as Yahweh commanded Moses. 37. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 38. “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them that they should make themselves fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put on the fringe of each border a cord of blue: 39. and it shall be to you for a fringe, that you may look on it, and remember all Yahweh’s commandments, and do them; and that you don’ t follow your own heart and your own eyes, after which you use to play the prostitute; 40. so that you may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. 41. I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am Yahweh your God.”

1. Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s chosen ones, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, 2. in hope of eternal life, which God, who can’t lie, promised before time began; 3. but in his own time revealed his word in the message with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior; 4. to Titus, my true child according to a common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. 5. I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you; 6. if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior. 7. For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain; 8. but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled; 9. holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him. 10. For there are also many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11. whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain’s sake. 12. One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons.” 13. This testimony is true. For this cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14. not paying attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. 15. To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. 16. They profess that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work. 1. But say the things which fit sound doctrine, 2. that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance: 3. and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good; 4. that they may train the young wives to love their husbands, to love their children, 5. to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed. 6. Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober minded; 7. in all things showing yourself an example of good works; in your teaching showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility, 8. and soundness of speech that can’t be condemned; that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us. 9. Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing in all things; not contradicting; 10. not stealing, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things. 11. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12. instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13. looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14. who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works. 15. Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise you. 1. Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2. to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men. 3. For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 5. not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6. whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; 7. that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8. This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you affirm confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men; 9. but shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10. Avoid a factious man after a first and second warning, 11. knowing that such a one is perverted and sins, being self-condemned. 12. When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me to Nicopolis, for I have determined to winter there. 13. Send Zenas, the lawyer, and Apollos on their journey speedily, that nothing may be lacking for them. 14. Let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they may not be unfruitful. 15. All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

1. I will sing of the loving kindness of Yahweh forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. 2. I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them.” 3. “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David, my servant, 4. ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah. 5. The heavens will praise your wonders, Yahweh; your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. 6. For who in the skies can be compared to Yahweh? Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like Yahweh, 7. a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him? 8. Yahweh, God of Armies, who is a mighty one, like you? Yah, your faithfulness is around you. 9. You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them. 10. You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain. You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. 11. The heavens are yours. The earth also is yours; the world and its fullness. You have founded them. 12. The north and the south, you have created them. Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name. 13. You have a mighty arm. Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted. 14. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before your face. 15. Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, Yahweh. 16. In your name they rejoice all day. In your righteousness, they are exalted. 17. For you are the glory of their strength. In your favor, our horn will be exalted. 18. For our shield belongs to Yahweh; our king to the Holy One of Israel. 19. Then you spoke in vision to your saints, and said, “I have given strength to the warrior. I have exalted a young man from the people. 20. I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil, 21. with whom my hand shall be established. My arm will also strengthen him. 22. No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him. 23. I will beat down his adversaries before him, and strike those who hate him. 24. But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him. In my name, his horn will be exalted. 25. I will set his hand also on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers. 26. He will call to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation!’ 27. I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. 28. I will keep my loving kindness for him forever more. My covenant will stand firm with him. 29. I will also make his offspring endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. 30. If his children forsake my law, and don’t walk in my ordinances; 31. if they break my statutes, and don’t keep my commandments; 32. then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 33. But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him, nor allow my faithfulness to fail. 34. I will not break my covenant, nor alter what my lips have uttered. 35. Once I have sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David. 36. His offspring will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me. 37. It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah. 38. But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed. 39. You have renounced the covenant of your servant. You have defiled his crown in the dust. 40. You have broken down all his hedges. You have brought his strongholds to ruin. 41. All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors. 42. You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. You have made all of his enemies rejoice. 43. Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword, and haven’t supported him in battle. 44. You have ended his splendor, and thrown his throne down to the ground. 45. You have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame. Selah. 46. How long, Yahweh? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your wrath burn like fire? 47. Remember how short my time is! For what vanity have you created all the children of men! 48. What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah. 49. Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses, which you swore to David in your faithfulness? 50. Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples, 51. With which your enemies have mocked, Yahweh, with which they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one. 52. Blessed be Yahweh forever more. Amen, and Amen.