1 When the people saw that Moses took a long time to come down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and told him, “Come here and make us a god a32:1 Or gods; and so throughout the chapter who will go before us, because, as for this fellow Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.” ISV — Exodus 32:1
2 Aaron told them, “Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me.” ISV — Exodus 32:2
3 All the people tore off the gold rings that were in their ears and brought them to him. ISV — Exodus 32:3
4 He took them from them b32:4 Lit. from their hand and, using a tool, fashioned them into a molten calf. c32:4 i.e. an image made by pouring hot, liquid metal into a mold The people d32:4 Lit. They said, “This, Israel, is your god who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” ISV — Exodus 32:4
5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of it, and then he proclaimed, “Tomorrow is to be a festival to the LORD.” ISV — Exodus 32:5
6 They got up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. Then the people sat down to eat and drink, and then they got up to play. e32:6 i.e. to engage in sexual immorality ISV — Exodus 32:6
7 The LORD told Moses, “Go down immediately, f32:7 Lit. Go, go down because your people whom you led out of Egypt have behaved corruptly. ISV — Exodus 32:7
8 They have been quick to turn aside from the way I commanded them, and they have made for themselves a molten calf. They have bowed down to it in worship, they have offered sacrifices to it, and they have said, ‘This, Israel, is your god who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” ISV — Exodus 32:8
9 Then the LORD told Moses, “I’ve seen these people and indeed they’re obstinate. g32:9 Lit. stiff-necked ISV — Exodus 32:9
10 Now let me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may consume them, but I’ll make a great nation of you.” ISV — Exodus 32:10
11 But Moses implored the LORD his God: “LORD, why are you angry with your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a show of force? h32:11 Lit. a mighty hand ISV — Exodus 32:11
12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘He brought them out with an evil intention to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your anger and change your mind about the calamity against your people. ISV — Exodus 32:12
13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants to whom you swore by yourself as you told them, ‘I’ll increase the number of your descendants like the stars of the heavens, I’ll give your descendants all of this land about which I have spoken, and they are to possess i32:13 Or inherit it forever.’” ISV — Exodus 32:13
14 So the LORD changed his mind about the calamity he had said he would bring on his people. ISV — Exodus 32:14
15 Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two Tablets of the Testimony in his hand, tablets which were written on both sides. They were written on one side and the other. ISV — Exodus 32:15
16 The tablets were the work of God and the writing was God’s writing, inscribed on the tablets. ISV — Exodus 32:16
17 When Joshua heard the sound of the people as they shouted, he told Moses, “The sound of war is coming from j32:17 Lit. is in the camp.” ISV — Exodus 32:17
18 Moses k32:18 Lit. He said, “It is not the sound of a victory shout, and it’s not the sound of a shout of defeat, but it’s the sound of singing that I hear.” ISV — Exodus 32:18
19 As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he became angry. He threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the base of the mountain. ISV — Exodus 32:19
20 He took the calf that they had made, burned it with fire, and ground it into powder. He scattered it on the water and made the Israelis drink it. ISV — Exodus 32:20
21 Then Moses asked Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you brought such great sin upon them?” ISV — Exodus 32:21
22 Aaron said, “Sir, l32:22 Lit. My lord don’t be angry. You know the people—that they’re intent on evil. ISV — Exodus 32:22
23 They told me, ‘Make a god for us who will go before us because, as for this fellow Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.’ ISV — Exodus 32:23
24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has gold ornaments, tear them off.’ When they gave it to me, I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” ISV — Exodus 32:24
25 When Moses saw that the people were out of control—since Aaron had let them get out of control, something that incited ridicule from their enemies m32:25 Lit. for ridicule among their enemies — ISV — Exodus 32:25
26 he stood in the gate of the camp and called out: “Whoever is for the LORD come over n32:26 The Heb. lacks come over to me,” and all the sons of Levi gathered around him. ISV — Exodus 32:26
27 He told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘Every man put his sword on his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and each of you kill his brother and friend and neighbor.’” ISV — Exodus 32:27
28 The descendants of Levi did just as Moses told them, o32:28 Lit. according to the word of Moses and about 3,000 people died that day. ISV — Exodus 32:28
29 Moses said, “You have been ordained p32:29 Or Consecrate yourselves to serve the LORD q32:29 Lit. ordained for the LORD today, and you have brought a blessing on yourselves today because every man opposed his son or brother.” r32:29 Or today at the cost of his son or brother ISV — Exodus 32:29
30 The next day Moses told the people, “You committed a great sin, and now I’ll go up to the LORD, and perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” ISV — Exodus 32:30
31 Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Please, LORD, this people committed a great sin by making a god of gold for themselves. ISV — Exodus 32:31
32 Now, if you will, forgive their sin—but if not, blot me out of your book which you have written.” ISV — Exodus 32:32
33 The LORD told Moses, “Whoever sins against me, I’ll blot him out of my book. ISV — Exodus 32:33
34 Now, go, and lead the people where I told you, and now my angel will go before you, but on the day when I do punish, I’ll punish them for their sin.” ISV — Exodus 32:34
35 Then the LORD sent a plague on the people because they made the calf (the one Aaron made). ISV — Exodus 32:35