First ReadingExodus 32:15-24, 30-34
From the Book of Exodus
15Moses turned, and went down from the mountain,with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand;tablets that were written on both their sides.They were written on one side and on the other.16The tablets were the work of God,and the writing was the writing of God,engraved on the tablets.
17When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted,he said to Moses, “There is the noise of war in the camp.”
18He said, “It isn’t the voice of thosewho shout for victory.It is not the voice of those who cry for being overcome;but the noise of those who sing that I hear.”19As soon as he came near to the camp,he saw the calf and the dancing.Then Moses’ anger grew hot,and he threw the tablets out of his hands,and broke them beneath the mountain.20He took the calf which they had made,and burned it with fire,ground it to powder,and scattered it on the water,and made the children of Israel drink it.
21Moses said to Aaron,“What did these people do to you,that you have brought a great sin on them?”
22Aaron said, “Don’t let the anger of my lord grow hot.You know the people, that they are set on evil.23For they said to me,‘Make us gods, which shall go before us.As for this Moses,the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt,we don’t know what has become of him.’24I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold,let them take it off.’So they gave it to me;and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”
verses 25–29 are not read30On the next day, Moses said to the people,“You have sinned a great sin.Now I will go up to the Lord.Perhaps I shall make atonement for your sin.”
31Moses returned to the Lord,and said, “Oh, this people have sinned a great sin,and have made themselves gods of gold.32Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of your bookwhich you have written.”
33The Lord said to Moses,“Whoever has sinned against me,I will blot him out of my book.34Now go, lead the people to the place ofwhich I have spoken to you.Behold, my angel shall go before you.Nevertheless, in the day when I punish,I will punish them for their sin.”