⁷ Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet,^(A) and he will pray for you^(B) and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.”^(C)

¹² and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders^(A) as a memorial^(B) before the Lord.

²⁹ “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place,^(A) he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord.

³⁰ Also put the Urim and the Thummim^(A) in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.

³⁸ It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt^(A) involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron’s forehead continually so that they will be acceptable^(B) to the Lord.

⁹ “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked^(A) people. ¹⁰ Now leave me alone^(B) so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy^(C) them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”^(D)

¹¹ But Moses sought the favor^(E) of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?^{(F) 12} Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’?^(G) Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster^(H) on your people. ¹³ Remember^(I) your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self:^(J) ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars^(K) in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land^(L) I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” ¹⁴ Then the Lord relented^(M) and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

²³ “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless^(A) the Israelites. Say to them: