And the Lord said to Moses, (A)“Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have (B)corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that (C)I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, (D)it is a stiff-necked people. 10 Now therefore (E)let me alone, that (F)my wrath may burn hot against them and (G)I may consume them, in order that (H)I may make a great nation of you.”

11 But (I)Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 (J)Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and (K)relent from this disaster against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you (L)swore by your own self, and said to them, (M)‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14 And the Lord (N)relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.

15 Then (O)Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the (P)two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets that were written on both sides; on the front and on the back they were written. 16 (Q)The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. 17 When (R)Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp.” 18 But he said, “It is not the sound of (S)shouting for victory, or the sound of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing that I hear.” 19 And as soon as he came near the camp and (T)saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends

ESV Study Bible, Burgundy Genuine Leather with Thumb Index
ESV Study Bible, Burgundy Genuine Leather with Thumb Index
Retail: $124.99
Our Price: $54.99
Save: $70.00 (56%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
ESV Holy Bible for Kids, Softcover Economy Edition
ESV Holy Bible for Kids, Softcover Economy Edition
Retail: $9.99
Our Price: $4.43
Save: $5.56 (56%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
ESV Holy Bible, Dyslexia-Friendly Edition--hardcover, sky blue
ESV Holy Bible, Dyslexia-Friendly Edition--hardcover, sky blue
Retail: $29.99
Our Price: $19.99
Save: $10.00 (33%)
ESV Thinline Bible--buffalo leather, brown
ESV Thinline Bible--buffalo leather, brown
Retail: $79.99
Our Price: $47.64
Save: $32.35 (40%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
ESV Thinline Bible--full grain leather, dark brown
ESV Thinline Bible--full grain leather, dark brown
Retail: $79.99
Our Price: $52.99
Save: $27.00 (34%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars