Today's Reading

¹Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said to them, "These are the words which the Lord has commanded, that you should do them.

²'Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of solemn rest to the Lord: whoever does any work in it shall be put to death.

³You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.'"

⁴Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, "This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying,

⁵'Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, the Lord's offering: gold, silver, brass,

⁶blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats' hair,

⁷rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,

⁸oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense,

⁹onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate.

¹⁰"'Let every wise-hearted man among you come, and make all that the Lord has commanded:

¹¹the tabernacle, its outer covering, its roof, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets;

¹²the ark, and its poles, the mercy seat, the veil of the screen;

¹³the table with its poles and all its vessels, and the show bread;

¹⁴the menorah also for the light, with its vessels, its lamps, and the oil for the light;

¹⁵and the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle;

¹⁶the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of brass, it poles, and all its vessels, the basin and its base;

¹⁷the hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court;

¹⁸the pins of the tabernacle, the pins of the court, and their cords;

¹⁹the finely worked garments, for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.'"

²⁰All the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.

²¹They came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and brought the Lord's offering, for the work of the Tent of Meeting, and for all of its service, and for the holy garments.

²²They came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought brooches, earrings, signet rings, and armlets, all jewels of gold; even every man who offered an offering of gold to the Lord.

²³Everyone, with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, brought them.

²⁴Everyone who did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the Lord's offering; and everyone, with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it.

²⁵All the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen.

²⁶All the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats' hair.

²⁷The rulers brought the onyx stones, and the stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breastplate;

²⁸and the spice, and the oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

²⁹The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the Lord; every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by Moses.

³⁰Moses said to the children of Israel, "Behold, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

³¹He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;

³²and to make skillful works, to work in gold, in silver, in brass,

³³in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of skillful workmanship.

³⁴He has put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

³⁵He has filled them with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any workmanship, and of those who make skillful works.

¹"Bezalel and Oholiab shall work with every wise-hearted man, in whom the Lord has put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the Lord has commanded."

²Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to the work to do it:

³and they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, with which to make it. They brought yet to him freewill offerings every morning.

⁴All the wise men, who performed all the work of the sanctuary, each came from his work which they did.

⁵They spoke to Moses, saying, "The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded to make."

⁶Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, "Let neither man nor woman make anything else for the offering for the sanctuary." So the people were restrained from bringing.

⁷For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.

⁸All the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, with cherubim, the work of the skillful workman, they made them.

⁹The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains had one measure.

¹⁰He coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled one to another.

¹¹He made loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling. Likewise he made in the edge of the curtain that was outmost in the second coupling.

¹²He made fifty loops in the one curtain, and he made fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that was in the second coupling. The loops were opposite one to another.

¹³He made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to another with the clasps: so the tabernacle was a unit.

¹⁴He made curtains of goats' hair for a covering over the tabernacle. He made them eleven curtains.

¹⁵The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the breadth of each curtain. The eleven curtains had one measure.

¹⁶He coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.

¹⁷He made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outmost in the coupling, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which was outmost in the second coupling.

¹⁸He made fifty clasps of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be a unit.

¹⁹He made a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.

²⁰He made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up.

²¹Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each board.

²²Each board had two tenons, joined one to another. He made all the boards of the tabernacle this way.

²³He made the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side southward.

²⁴He made forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons.

²⁵For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards,

²⁶and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

²⁷For the far part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.

²⁸He made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far part.

²⁹They were double beneath, and in like manner they were all the way to its top to one ring. He did thus to both of them in the two corners.

³⁰There were eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; under every board two sockets.

³¹He made bars of acacia wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,

³²and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the hinder part westward.

³³He made the middle bar to pass through in the midst of the boards from the one end to the other.

³⁴He overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold for places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.

³⁵He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workman.

³⁶He made four pillars of acacia for it, and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold. He cast four sockets of silver for them.

³⁷He made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer;

³⁸and the five pillars of it with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold, and their five sockets were of brass.

¹Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Its length was two and a half cubits, and its breadth a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height.

²He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold for it around it.

³He cast four rings of gold for it, in its four feet; even two rings on its one side, and two rings on its other side.

⁴He made poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.

⁵He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.

⁶He made a mercy seat of pure gold. Its length was two and a half cubits, and a cubit and a half its breadth.

⁷He made two cherubim of gold. He made them of beaten work, at the two ends of the mercy seat;

⁸one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end. He made the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends.

⁹The cherubim spread out their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat.

¹⁰He made the table of acacia wood. Its length was two cubits, and its breadth was a cubit, and its height was a cubit and a half.

¹¹He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it.

¹²He made a border of a handbreadth around it, and made a golden molding on its border around it.

¹³He cast four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that were on its four feet.

¹⁴The rings were close by the border, the places for the poles to carry the table.

¹⁵He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table.

¹⁶He made the vessels which were on the table, its dishes, its spoons, its bowls, and its pitchers with which to pour out, of pure gold.

¹⁷He made the menorah of pure gold. He made the menorah of beaten work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers were of one piece with it.

¹⁸There were six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the menorah out of its one side, and three branches of the menorah out of its other side:

¹⁹three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower, and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a flower: so for the six branches going out of the menorah.

²⁰In the menorah were four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers;

²¹and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of it.

²²Their buds and their branches were of one piece with it. The whole thing was one beaten work of pure gold.

²³He made its seven lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, of pure gold.

²⁴He made it of a talent of pure gold, with all its vessels.

²⁵He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. It was square: its length was a cubit, and its breadth a cubit. Its height was two cubits. Its horns were of one piece with it.

²⁶He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, its sides around it, and its horns. He made a gold molding around it.

²⁷He made two golden rings for it under its molding crown, on its two ribs, on its two sides, for places for poles with which to carry it.

²⁸He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.

²⁹He made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, after the art of the perfumer.

¹The beginning of the Good News of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

²As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.

³The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!'"

⁴John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.

⁵All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.

⁶John was clothed with camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.

⁷He preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen.

⁸I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit."

⁹It happened in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

¹⁰Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

¹¹A voice came out of the sky, "You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased."

¹²Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.

¹³He was there in the wilderness forty days tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were serving him.

¹⁴Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the Good News of God,

¹⁵and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is near! Repent, and believe in the Good News."

¹⁶And passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

¹⁷Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men."

¹⁸Immediately they left the nets, and followed him.

¹⁹Going on a little further, he saw Jacob the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.

²⁰Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.

²¹They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.

²²They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.

²³Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he shouted,

²⁴saying, "What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!"

²⁵Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"

²⁶The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.

²⁷They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!"

²⁸The report of him went out immediately into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.

²⁹Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with Jacob and John.

³⁰Now Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.

³¹And he came and took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she served them.

³²At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick, and those who were possessed by demons.

³³All the city was gathered together at the door.

³⁴He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.

³⁵Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.

³⁶Simon and those who were with him followed after him;

³⁷and they found him, and told him, "Everyone is looking for you."

³⁸He said to them, "Let us go somewhere else into the next towns, that I may proclaim there also, because I came out for this reason."

³⁹He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.

⁴⁰A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, "If you want to, you can make me clean."

⁴¹Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, "I want to. Be made clean."

⁴²Immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.

⁴³He strictly warned him, and immediately sent him out,

⁴⁴and said to him, "See you say nothing to anyone, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."

⁴⁵But he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to spread about the matter, so that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places: and they came to him from everywhere.

¹ Ascribe to the Lord, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

²Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name. Worship the Lord in holy array.

³The Lord's voice is on the waters. The God of glory thunders, even the Lord on many waters.

⁴The Lord's voice is powerful. The Lord's voice is full of majesty.

⁵The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars. Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

⁶He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young, wild ox.

⁷The Lord's voice strikes with flashes of lightning.

⁸The Lord's voice shakes the wilderness. The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

⁹The Lord's voice makes the deer calve, and strips the forests bare. In his temple everything says, "Glory!"

¹⁰The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood. Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.

¹¹The Lord will give strength to his people. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

¹He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.

²When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

³Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father; but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

⁴The king by justice makes the land stable, but he who takes bribes tears it down.

⁵A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

⁶An evil man is snared by his sin, but the righteous can sing and be glad.

⁷The righteous care about justice for the poor. The wicked aren't concerned about knowledge.

⁸Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.

⁹If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace.

¹⁰The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity; and they seek the life of the upright.

¹¹A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control.

¹²If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked.

¹³The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.

¹⁴The king who fairly judges the poor, his throne shall be established forever.

¹⁵The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.

¹⁶When the wicked increase, sin increases; but the righteous will see their downfall.

¹⁷Correct your son, and he will give you peace; yes, he will bring delight to your soul.

¹⁸Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but one who keeps the Law is blessed.

¹⁹A servant can't be corrected by words. Though he understands, yet he will not respond.

²⁰Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

²¹He who pampers his servant from youth will have him become a son in the end.

²²An angry man stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in sin.

²³A man's pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor.

²⁴Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul. He takes an oath, but dares not testify.

²⁵The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in the Lord is kept safe.

²⁶Many seek the ruler's favor, but a man's justice comes from the Lord.

²⁷A dishonest man detests the righteous, and the upright in their ways detest the wicked.