^14:18‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in loyal love,³⁰ forgiving iniquity and transgression,³¹ but by no means clearing³² the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children until the third and fourth generations.’³³^14:19Please forgive³⁴ the iniquity of this people according to your great loyal love,³⁵ just as you have forgiven this people from Egypt even until now.”

^14:20Then the Lord said, “I have forgiven them as you asked.³⁶

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Footnotes

30 The expression is רַב־חֶסֶד (rav khesed) means “much of loyal love,” or “faithful love.” Some have it “totally faithful,” but that omits the aspect of his love.
31 Or “rebellion.”
32 The infinitive absolute emphasizes the verbal activity of the imperfect tense, which here serves as a habitual imperfect. Negated it states what God does not do; and the infinitive makes that certain.
33 The Decalogue adds “to those who hate me.” The point of the line is that the effects of sin, if not the sinful traits themselves, are passed on to the next generation.
34 The verb סְלַח־נָא (selakh-na’), the imperative form, means “forgive” (see Ps 130:4), “pardon,” “excuse.” The imperative is of course a prayer, a desire, and not a command.
35 The construct unit is “the greatness of your loyal love.” This is the genitive of specification, the first word being the modifier.
36 Heb “forgiven according to your word.” The direct object, “them,” is implied.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.”

Then the Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”

The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in faithful love, forgiving iniquity and rebellion. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generation. Please pardon the iniquity of this people, in keeping with the greatness of your faithful love, just as you have forgiven them from Egypt until now.”

The Lord responded, “I have pardoned them as you requested.

NLTNew Living Translation

‘The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.’ In keeping with your magnificent, unfailing love, please pardon the sins of this people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.”

Then the Lord said, “I will pardon them as you have requested.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

‘Yahweh is slow to anger

and great of loyal love,

forgiving sin and rebellion;

but surely he leaves nothing unpunished,

visiting the sin of the fathers on the sons

to the third and fourth generations.’

Please forgive the sin of this people according to the greatness of your loyal love, just as you forgave this people, from Egypt until now.”

Yahweh said, “I have forgiven them according to your word;

KJV 1900King James Version

The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word:

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