Exodus 26-27
Exodus 26
The Ten Curtains of the Tabernacle
1 “Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with cherubims woven into them by a skilled workman. 2 The length of each curtain shall be fourteen yards, and the width of each curtain two yards. All the curtains shall be the same measurements.
3 Five curtains shall be coupled together, and the other five curtains shall be coupled together. 4 You shall make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling, and you shall do likewise on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second coupling.
5 You shall make 50 loops in the one curtain, and you shall make 50 loops in the edge of the curtain that is in the second coupling. The loops shall be opposite one another. 6 You shall make 50 clasps of gold and couple the curtains to one another with the clasps. The tabernacle shall be one unit.”
The Eleven Curtains of Goats’ Hair
7 “You shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains. 8 The length of each curtain shall be fifteen yards, and the width of each curtain two yards. The eleven curtains shall have the same measurements.
9 You shall couple five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves and shall double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent.
10 You shall make 50 loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the coupling and 50 loops on the edge of the curtain which is outermost in the second coupling. 11 You shall make 50 clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together so that it may be one unit.
12 The part that remains of the tent curtains shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. 13 And the eighteen inches on one side, and the eighteen inches on the other side of that which remains in the length of the tent curtains, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on each side, to cover it.
14 You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red and a covering of sea cow hides above.”
The Boards and Sockets
15 “You shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright. 16 The length of each board shall be five yards and the width of each board, 27 inches. 17 There shall be two tenons in each board, joined to one another. This is how you shall make all the boards of the tabernacle.
18 You shall make twenty boards for the tabernacle, for the south side. 19 You shall make 40 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; 20 twenty planks for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, 21 along with their 40 sockets of silver, two sockets under one board and two sockets under another board.
22 For the far west side of the tabernacle you shall make six boards. 23 You shall make two boards for the two back corners of the tabernacle. 24 And they shall be coupled together at the bottom and coupled together at the top, into one ring. So it shall be for both of them. They shall form the two corners. 25 There shall be eight boards with their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets, two sockets under one board and two sockets under the other board.
26 You shall make crossbars of acacia wood, five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle 27 and five crossbars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle and five crossbars for the boards at the back of the tabernacle to the west.
28 The middle bar in the middle of the boards shall pass through from end to end. 29 You shall overlay the boards with gold and make their rings of gold for places for the bars. You shall overlay the bars with gold.
30 You shall set up the tabernacle according to the way that it was shown to you on the mountain.”
The Veil for the Ark
31 “You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of a skilled craftsman. 32 You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold, on four sockets of silver. 33 You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring the ark of the covenant in there within the veil. The veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy place for you.
34 You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant in the most holy place. 35 You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lamp stand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south. You shall put the table on the north side.”
The Curtain for the Door
36 “You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer. 37 You shall make five pillars of acacia for the screen, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold. You shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.”
Exodus 27
The Bronze Alter
1 “You shall make the altar of acacia wood, seven and a half feet long and seven and a half feet wide. The altar shall be square. Its height shall be 4½ feet. 2 You shall make horns for it on each of its four corners. Its horns shall be of one piece. You shall overlay it with bronze.
3 You shall make its pots for taking away its ashes, and you shall make its shovels, basins, meat hooks, and fire pans with bronze. 4 You shall make a grate for it of bronze mesh. On the net you shall make four bronze rings in its four corners. 5 You shall set it below the ledge around the underside of the altar so that the mesh may come halfway up the altar.
6 You shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. 7 Its poles shall be put into the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar when carrying it.
8 You shall make the alter hollow with boards. They shall make it just as it has been shown to you on the mountain.”
The Courtyard
9 “You shall make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen 50 yards long for one side. 10 It shall have twenty pillars with twenty bronze sockets. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.
11 Likewise for the length of the north side, there shall be hangings 50 yards long and its pillars twenty and their sockets twenty, of bronze, the hooks of the pillars and their fillets, of silver. 12 For the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of 25 yards, their pillars ten and their sockets ten.
13 The width of the court on the east side shall be 25 yards. 14 The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be 22½ feet, including their three pillars and three sockets. 15 The hangings for the other side shall be 22½ feet, including their three pillars and three sockets.
16 The court gate shall have a 30 foot screen, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer. It is to have four pillars with their four sockets.
17 All the pillars around the court shall be filleted with silver; their hooks of silver and their sockets of bronze. 18 The length of the court shall be 50 yards, 25 yards in width and 7½ of fine twined linen, and their sockets of bronze. 19 All the instruments of the tabernacle in all its service, and all its pins, and all the pins of the court, shall be of bronze.”
The Oil for the Lamps
20 “You shall command the Israelites, that they bring to you pure extracted olive oil for the light, to keep a lamp burning continually.
21 In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil which is before the covenant, Aaron and his sons shall keep it in order from evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a statute forever throughout their generations on the behalf of the Israelites.”
Matthew 25:1-30
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all dozed off and slept.
6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’
7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, or there won’t be enough for both us and you. Go, instead, to those who sell and buy some for yourselves.’
10 While they went away to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast and the door was shut.
11 Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door to us.’
12 But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I do not know you.’
13 Watch therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”
The Parable of the Talents
14 “For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
16 Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them and made another five talents. 17 In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two. 18 But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and reconciled accounts with them. 20 He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents. I have gained another five talents in addition to them.’
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
22 He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents. I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’
23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24 He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. 25 I was afraid and went away and hid your talent in the earth. You have what is yours.’
26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter. 27 You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.
28 Take away therefore the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance, but from the one who does not have, even that which he has will be taken away. 30 Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ”
Psalm 31:1-8
Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
1 In you, O Lord, do I put my trust.
Let me never be ashamed.
Deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Bow your ear down to me.
Deliver me speedily.
Be my strong rock,
a house of defense to save me.
3 For you are my rock and my fortress,
therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.
4 Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me,
for you are my strength.
5 Into your hand I commend my spirit.
You redeem me, O Lord, God of truth.
6 I have hated those who regard worthless idols,
but I trust in the Lord.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in your mercy,
for you have seen my affliction.
You have known the adversity in my soul.
8 You have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy.
You have set my feet in a spacious place.
Proverbs 8:1-11
1 Does wisdom not cry out?
Does understanding not raise her voice?
2 On the top of high places along the way,
where the paths meet, she stands.
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,
at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
4 “I call to you, men!
I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 You simple, understand prudence!
You fools, be of an understanding heart!
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things.
and my lips say what is right.
7 For my mouth speaks truth.
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.
There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him who understands,
right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction rather than silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies.
All the things that may be desired cannot be compared with it.