Exodus 32:21-35 ▼

21 And Moses said to Aaron, What has this people done to thee, that thou hast brought upon them a great sin?

22 And Aaron said to Moses, Be not angry, my lord, for thou knowest the impetuosity of this people.

23 For they say to me, Make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this man Moses, who brought us out of Egypt, we do not know what is become of him.

24 And I said to them, If any one has golden ornaments, take them off; and they gave them me, and I cast them into the fire, and there came out this calf.

25 And when Moses saw that the people was scattered, - for Aaron had scattered them so as to be a rejoicing to their enemies, -

26 then stood Moses at the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side? let him come to me. Then all the sons of Levi came to him.

27 And he says to them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every one his sword on his thigh, and go through and return from gate to gate through the camp, and slay every one his brother, and every one his neighbour, and every one him that is nearest to him.

28 And the sons of Levi did as Moses spoke to them, and there fell of the people in that day to the number of three thousand men.

29 And Moses said to them, Ye have filled your hands this day to the Lord each one on his son or on his brother, so that blessing should be given to you.

30 And it came to pass after the morrow had begun , that Moses said to the people, Ye have sinned a great sin; and now I will go up to God, that I may make atonement for your sin.

31 And Moses returned to the Lord and said, I pray, O Lord, this people has sinned a great sin, and they have made for themselves golden gods.

32 And now if thou wilt forgive their sin, forgive it ; and if not, blot me out of thy book, which thou hast written.

33 And the Lord said to Moses, If any one has sinned against me, I will blot them out of my book.

34 And now go, descend, and lead this people into the place of which I spoke to thee: behold, my angel shall go before thy face; and in the day when I shall visit I will bring upon them their sin.

35 And the Lord smote the people for the making the calf, which Aaron made.