The Radiant Face of Moses

²⁹ When Moses came down from Mount Sinai^(A) with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands,^(B) he was not aware that his face was radiant^(C) because he had spoken with the Lord. ³⁰ When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. ³¹ But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community^(D) came back to him, and he spoke to them. ³² Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands^(E) the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.

³³ When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil^(F) over his face. ³⁴ But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, ³⁵ they saw that his face was radiant.^(G) Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ,^(A) and each one of you is a part of it.^{(B) 28} And God has placed in the church^(C) first of all apostles,^(D) second prophets,^(E) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,^(F) of helping, of guidance,^(G) and of different kinds of tongues.^{(H) 29} Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues^[a]?^(I) Do all interpret? ³¹ Now eagerly desire^(J) the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

13 If I speak in the tongues^[b](K) of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy^(L) and can fathom all mysteries^(M) and all knowledge,^(N) and if I have a faith^(O) that can move mountains,^(P) but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor^(Q) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[c](R) but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient,^(S) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.^{(T) 5} It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,^(U) it is not easily angered,^(V) it keeps no record of wrongs.^{(W) 6} Love does not delight in evil^(X) but rejoices with the truth.^{(Y) 7} It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.^(Z)

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,^(AA) they will cease; where there are tongues,^(AB) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part^(AC) and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes,^(AD) what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood^(AE) behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;^(AF) then we shall see face to face.^(AG) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.^(AH)

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.^(AI) But the greatest of these is love.^(AJ)

The Transfiguration^(A)

²⁸ About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James^(B) with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.^{(C) 29} As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. ³⁰ Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. ³¹ They spoke about his departure,^[a](D) which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. ³² Peter and his companions were very sleepy,^(E) but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. ³³ As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master,^(F) it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

³⁴ While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen;^(G) listen to him.”^{(H) 36} When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.^(I)