From Vision to Vessel: Building God's Dwelling

1. Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said to them, “These are the words which Yahweh 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 Yahweh: whoever does any work in it shall be put to death. 3. You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.’” 4. Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which Yahweh commanded, saying, 5. ‘Take from among you an offering to Yahweh. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, Yahweh’s offering: gold, silver, brass, 6. blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, 7. rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, 8. oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense, 9. onyx 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 Yahweh has commanded: 11. the tabernacle, its outer covering, its roof, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; 12. the ark, and its poles, the mercy seat, the veil of the screen; 13. the table with its poles and all its vessels, and the show bread; 14. the lamp stand also for the light, with its vessels, its lamps, and the oil for the light; 15. and the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle; 16. the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of brass, it poles, and all its vessels, the basin and its base; 17. the hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court; 18. the pins of the tabernacle, the pins of the court, and their cords; 19. the 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.’” 20. All the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21. They came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and brought Yahweh’s offering, for the work of the Tent of Meeting, and for all of its service, and for the holy garments. 22. They 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 Yahweh. 23. Everyone, with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, brought them. 24. Everyone who offered an offering of silver and brass brought Yahweh’s offering; and everyone, with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it. 25. All 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. 26. All the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats’ hair. 27. The rulers brought the onyx stones and the stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate; 28. with the spice and the oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. 29. The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to Yahweh; every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which Yahweh had commanded to be made by Moses. 30. Moses said to the children of Israel, “Behold, Yahweh has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31. He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship; 32. and to make skillful works, to work in gold, in silver, in brass, 33. in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of skillful workmanship. 34. He has put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35. He has filled them with wisdom of heart, to work all kinds 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 Yahweh has put wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that Yahweh has commanded.” 2. Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart Yahweh had put wisdom, even everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to the work to do it: 3. and 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. 4. All the wise men, who performed all the work of the sanctuary, each came from his work which they did. 5. They spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which Yahweh commanded to make.” 6. Moses 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. 7. For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much. 8. All 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. 9. The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains had one measure. 10. He coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another. 11. He 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 outermost in the second coupling. 12. He 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 to one another. 13. He made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains to one another with the clasps: so the tabernacle was a unit. 14. He made curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. He made them eleven curtains. 15. The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the width of each curtain. The eleven curtains had one measure. 16. He coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves. 17. He made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the coupling, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which was outermost in the second coupling. 18. He made fifty clasps of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be a unit. 19. He made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above. 20. He made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up. 21. Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the width of each board. 22. Each board had two tenons, joined to one another. He made all the boards of the tabernacle this way. 23. He made the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side southward. 24. He 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. 25. For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards, 26. and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 27. For the far part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards. 28. He made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far part. 29. They were double beneath, and in the same way they were all the way to its top to one ring. He did this to both of them in the two corners. 30. There were eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; under every board two sockets. 31. He made bars of acacia wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 32. and 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. 33. He made the middle bar to pass through in the middle of the boards from the one end to the other. 34. He overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold as places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold. 35. He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workman. 36. He 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. 37. He made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer; 38. and the five pillars of it with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold, and their five sockets were of brass. 1. Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Its length was two and a half cubits, and its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height. 2. He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold for it around it. 3. He 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. 4. He made poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. 5. He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. 6. He made a mercy seat of pure gold. Its length was two and a half cubits, and a cubit and a half its width. 7. He made two cherubim of gold. He made them of beaten work, at the two ends of the mercy seat; 8. one 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. 9. The 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. 10. He made the table of acacia wood. Its length was two cubits, and its width was a cubit, and its height was a cubit and a half. 11. He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. 12. He made a border of a hand width around it, and made a golden molding on its border around it. 13. He cast four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that were on its four feet. 14. The rings were close by the border, the places for the poles to carry the table. 15. He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table. 16. He 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. 17. He made the lamp stand of pure gold. He made the lamp stand of beaten work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers were of one piece with it. 18. There were six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lamp stand out of its one side, and three branches of the lamp stand out of its other side: 19. three 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 lamp stand. 20. In the lamp stand were four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers; 21. and 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. 22. Their buds and their branches were of one piece with it. The whole thing was one beaten work of pure gold. 23. He made its seven lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, of pure gold. 24. He made it of a talent of pure gold, with all its vessels. 25. He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. It was square: its length was a cubit, and its width a cubit. Its height was two cubits. Its horns were of one piece with it. 26. He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, its sides around it, and its horns. He made a gold molding around it. 27. He 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. 28. He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. 29. He made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, after the art of the perfumer.

1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. 4. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. 6. There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7. The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. 8. He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. 9. The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. 10. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. 11. He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. 12. But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 13. who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14. The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15. John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’” 16. From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. 17. For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18. No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him. 19. This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20. He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.” 21. They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22. They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23. He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” 24. The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees. 25. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26. John answered them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know. 27. He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.” 28. These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29. The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30. This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’ 31. I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.” 32. John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. 33. I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34. I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” 35. Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples, 36. and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37. The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39. He said to them, “Come, and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour. 40. One of the two who heard John, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41. He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ). 42. He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter). 43. On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” 44. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46. Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” 48. Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49. Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!” 50. Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!” 51. He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you all, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” 1. The third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. 2. Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the marriage. 3. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.” 4. Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come.” 5. His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.” 6. Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews’ way of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece. 7. Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” They filled them up to the brim. 8. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast.” So they took it. 9. When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn’t know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom, 10. and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!” 11. This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 12. After this, he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they stayed there a few days. 13. The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14. He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting. 15. He made a whip of cords, and threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew their tables. 16. To those who sold the doves, he said, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17. His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will eat me up.” 18. The Jews therefore answered him, “What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things?” 19. Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20. The Jews therefore said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?” 21. But he spoke of the temple of his body. 22. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. 23. Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he did. 24. But Jesus didn’t entrust himself to them, because he knew everyone, 25. and because he didn’t need for anyone to testify concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man. 1. Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2. The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” 3. Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.” 4. Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” 5. Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7. Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ 8. The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9. Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?” 10. Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things? 11. Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness. 12. If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13. No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. 14. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15. that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17. For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19. This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. 20. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. 21. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.” 22. After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized. 23. John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized. 24. For John was not yet thrown into prison. 25. There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification. 26. They came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.” 27. John answered, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. 28. You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’ 29. He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full. 30. He must increase, but I must decrease. 31. He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32. What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. 33. He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34. For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. 35. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36. One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

1. To you, Yahweh, do I lift up my soul. 2. My God, I have trusted in you. Don’t let me be shamed. Don’t let my enemies triumph over me. 3. Yes, no one who waits for you shall be shamed. They shall be shamed who deal treacherously without cause. 4. Show me your ways, Yahweh. Teach me your paths. 5. Guide me in your truth, and teach me, For you are the God of my salvation, I wait for you all day long. 6. Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness, for they are from old times. 7. Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your loving kindness, for your goodness’ sake, Yahweh. 8. Good and upright is Yahweh, therefore he will instruct sinners in the way. 9. He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way. 10. All the paths of Yahweh are loving kindness and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11. For your name’s sake, Yahweh, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. 12. What man is he who fears Yahweh? He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose. 13. His soul shall dwell at ease. His offspring shall inherit the land. 14. The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant. 15. My eyes are ever on Yahweh, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. 16. Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted. 17. The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh bring me out of my distresses. 18. Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins. 19. Consider my enemies, for they are many. They hate me with cruel hatred. 20. Oh keep my soul, and deliver me. Let me not be disappointed, for I take refuge in you. 21. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. 22. Redeem Israel, God, out of all his troubles.