Even now they persist in sin! ¹  They make metal images for themselves, idols that they skillfully fashion ²  from their own silver; all of them are nothing but the work of craftsmen! There is a saying about them: ³  “Those who sacrifice ⁴  to the calf idol are calf kissers!” ⁵ 

For God achieved what the law could not do because ¹  it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

And so ¹  we too constantly thank God that when you received God’s message that you heard from us, ²  you accepted it not as a human message, ³  but as it truly is, God’s message, which is at work among you who believe.

So they approached the king and said to him, ¹  “Did you not issue an edict to the effect that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than to you, O king, would be thrown into a den of lions?” The king replied, “That is correct, ²  according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.”

God created humankind ¹  in his own image, in the image of God he created them, ²  male and female he created them. ³ 

the sons of God ¹  saw that the daughters of humankind were beautiful. Thus they took wives for themselves from any they chose.

You can present them to the Lord as an offering of first fruit, ¹  but they must not go up to the altar for a soothing aroma.

or a man who touches a swarming thing by which he becomes unclean, ¹  or touches a person ²  by which he becomes unclean, whatever that person’s impurity ³  –

“Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When a man makes a special votive offering ¹  based on the conversion value of persons to the Lord, ² 

and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, along with their households, and all Korah’s men, and all their goods.

I say this ¹  so you will not corrupt yourselves by making an image in the form of any kind of figure. This includes the likeness of a human male or female,

Who is there from the entire human race ¹  who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the middle of the fire as we have, and has lived?

The judge ¹  may sentence him to forty blows, ²  but no more. If he is struck with more than these, you might view your fellow Israelite ³  with contempt.

Yet they will become his subjects, so they can experience how serving me differs from serving the surrounding nations.” ¹ 

But ¹  Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for ²  skin! ³  Indeed, a man will give up ⁴  all that he has to save his life! ⁵ 

For he ¹  is not a human being like I am, that ²  I might answer him, that we might come ³  together in judgment.

And he said to mankind, ‘The fear of the Lord ¹  – that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” ² 

You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks ¹  of men; ²  you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks. ³ 

How precious ¹  is your loyal love, O God! The human race finds shelter under your wings. ² 

You severely discipline people for their sins; ¹  like a moth you slowly devour their strength. ²  Surely all people are a mere vapor. (Selah)