9. And again, the Lord said to Moses: "I discern that this people is stiff-necked.
10. Release me, so that my fury may be enraged against them, and I may destroy them, and then I will make of you a great nation."
11. Then Moses prayed to the Lord his God, saying: "Why, O Lord, is your fury enraged against your people, whom you led away from the land of Egypt, with great strength and with a mighty hand?
12. I beg you, let not the Egyptians say, 'He cleverly led them away, so that he could put them to death in the mountains and destroy them from the earth.' Let your anger be quieted and appeased concerning the wickedness of your people.
13. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your very self, saying: 'I will multiply your offspring like the stars of heaven. And this entire land, about which I have spoken, I will give to your offspring. And you shall possess it forever.' "
14. And the Lord was appeased from doing the evil which he had spoken against his people.
15. And Moses returned from the mountain, carrying the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, written on both sides,
16. and accomplished by the work of God. Also, the writing of God was engraved on the tablets.
17. Then Joshua, hearing the tumult of the people shouting, said to Moses: "The outcry of battle is heard in the camp."
18. But he responded: "It is not the clamor of men being exhorted to battle, nor the shout of men being compelled to flee. But I hear the voice of singing."
19. And when he had approached to the camp, he saw the calf and the dances. And being very angry, he threw down the tablets from his hand, and he broke them at the base of the mountain.
20. And seizing the calf, which they had made, he burnt it and crushed it, even to dust, which he scattered into water. And he gave from it to the sons of Israel to drink.
21. And he said to Aaron, "What has this people done to you, so that you would bring upon them the greatest sin?"
22. And he answered him: "Let not my lord be indignant. For you know this people, that they are prone to evil.
23. They said to me: 'Make gods for us, who may go before us. For this Moses, who led us away from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has befallen him.'
24. And I said to them, 'Which of you has gold?' And they took it and gave it to me. And I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out."