22 "Do not be angry, my lord," Aaron answered. "You know how prone these people are to evil.
22 And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.
22 And Aaron said, "Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil.
22 Aaron said, "Master, don't be angry. You know this people and how set on evil they are.
22 So Aaron said, "Do not let the anger of my lord become hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil.
22 "Don't get so upset, my lord," Aaron replied. "You yourself know how evil these people are.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 32:22
Commentary on Exodus 32:21-29
(Read Exodus 32:21-29)
Never did any wise man make a more frivolous and foolish excuse than that of Aaron. We must never be drawn into sin by any thing man can say or do to us; for men can but tempt us to sin, they cannot force us. The approach of Moses turned the dancing into trembling. They were exposed to shame by their sin. The course Moses took to roll away this reproach, was, not by concealing the sin, or putting any false colour upon it, but by punishing it. The Levites were to slay the ringleaders in this wickedness; yet none were executed but those who openly stood forth. Those are marked for ruin who persist in sin: those who in the morning were shouting and dancing, before night were dying. Such sudden changes do the judgments of the Lord sometimes make with sinners that are secure and jovial in their sin.