Exodus 27; Exodus 28; Psalms 96

Exodus 27

1 “Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.

2 Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze.

3 Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans.

4 Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network.

5 Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar.

6 Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze.

7 The poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried.

8 Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.

9 “Make a courtyard for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen,

10 with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

11 The north side shall also be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

12 “The west end of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits wide and have curtains, with ten posts and ten bases.

13 On the east end, toward the sunrise, the courtyard shall also be fifty cubits wide.

14 Curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases,

15 and curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases.

16 “For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain twenty cubits long, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer—with four posts and four bases.

17 All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands and hooks, and bronze bases.

18 The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits high, and with bronze bases.

19 All the other articles used in the service of the tabernacle, whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it and those for the courtyard, are to be of bronze.

20 “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning.

21 In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.

Exodus 28

1 “Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests.

2 Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor.

3 Tell all the skilled workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest.

4 These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests.

5 Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.

6 “Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen—the work of skilled hands.

7 It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened.

8 Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.

9 “Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel

10 in the order of their birth—six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other.

11 Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings

12 and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the LORD.

13 Make gold filigree settings

14 and two braided chains of pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings.

15 “Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of skilled hands. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen.

16 It is to be square—a span long and a span wide—and folded double.

17 Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. The first row shall be carnelian, chrysolite and beryl;

18 the second row shall be turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald;

19 the third row shall be jacinth, agate and amethyst;

20 the fourth row shall be topaz, onyx and jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings.

21 There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

22 “For the breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope.

23 Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece.

24 Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece,

25 and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front.

26 Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod.

27 Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod.

28 The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod.

29 “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD.

30 Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the LORD. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the LORD.

31 “Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth,

32 with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collar around this opening, so that it will not tear.

33 Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them.

34 The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe.

35 Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the LORD and when he comes out, so that he will not die.

36 “Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.

37 Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban.

38 It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron’s forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the LORD.

39 “Weave the tunic of fine linen and make the turban of fine linen. The sash is to be the work of an embroiderer.

40 Make tunics, sashes and caps for Aaron’s sons to give them dignity and honor.

41 After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.

42 “Make linen undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh.

43 Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die. “This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants.

Psalms 96

1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.

2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.

3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.

6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.

9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.

10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.

11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

13 Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.