Sacred Space: Building God's Dwelling Place

1. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2. “Speak to the children of Israel, that they take an offering for me. From everyone whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering. 3. This is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, brass, 4. blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, 5. rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, 6. oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense, 7. onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate. 8. Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. 9. According to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all of its furniture, even so you shall make it. 10. “They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Its length shall be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height. 11. You shall overlay it with pure gold. You shall overlay it inside and outside, and you shall make a gold molding around it. 12. You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four feet. Two rings shall be on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. 13. You shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 14. You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark. 15. The poles shall be in the rings of the ark. They shall not be taken from it. 16. You shall put the testimony which I shall give you into the ark. 17. You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two and a half cubits shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its width. 18. You shall make two cherubim of hammered gold. You shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. 19. Make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end. You shall make the cherubim on its two ends of one piece with the mercy seat. 20. The cherubim shall spread out their wings upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. 21. You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I will give you. 22. There I will meet with you, and I will tell you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the testimony, all that I command you for the children of Israel. 23. “You shall make a table of acacia wood. Two cubits shall be its length, and a cubit its width, and one and a half cubits its height. 24. You shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. 25. You shall make a rim of a hand width around it. You shall make a golden molding on its rim around it. 26. You shall make four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that are on its four feet. 27. the rings shall be close to the rim, for places for the poles to carry the table. 28. You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them. 29. You shall make its dishes, its spoons, its ladles, and its bowls to pour out offerings with. You shall make them of pure gold. 30. You shall set bread of the presence on the table before me always. 31. “You shall make a lamp stand of pure gold. Of hammered work shall the lamp stand be made, even its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers, shall be of one piece with it. 32. There shall be 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; 33. 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; 34. and in the lamp stand four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers; 35. 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 the lamp stand. 36. Their buds and their branches shall be of one piece with it, all of it one beaten work of pure gold. 37. You shall make its lamps seven, and they shall light its lamps to give light to the space in front of it. 38. Its snuffers and its snuff dishes shall be of pure gold. 39. It shall be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these accessories. 40. See that you make them after their pattern, which has been shown to you on the mountain. 1. “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman you shall make them. 2. The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains shall have one measure. 3. Five curtains shall be coupled together to one another; and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. 4. You shall make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling; and likewise you shall make in the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second coupling. 5. You shall make fifty loops in the one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that is in the second coupling. The loops shall be opposite one another. 6. You shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains to one another with the clasps: and the tabernacle shall be a unit. 7. “You shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. You shall make them eleven curtains. 8. The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure. 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 fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the coupling, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which is outermost in the second coupling. 11. You shall make fifty clasps of brass, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one. 12. The overhanging part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. 13. The cubit on the one side, and the cubit on the other side, of that which remains in the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that 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. 15. “You shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up. 16. Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board. 17. There shall be two tenons in each board, joined to one another: thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle. 18. You shall make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward. 19. You shall make 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. 20. For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards, 21. and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 22. For the far part of the tabernacle westward you shall make six boards. 23. You shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far part. 24. They shall be double beneath, and in the same way they shall be whole to its top to one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners. 25. There shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 26. “You shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 27. and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the far part westward. 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: and 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. 31. “You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman shall it be made. 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 testimony in there within the veil: and the veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you. 34. You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. 35. You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lamp stand over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and you shall put the table on the north side. 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 for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold: their hooks shall be of gold: and you shall cast five sockets of brass for them. 1. “You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits wide; the altar shall be square: and its height shall be three cubits. 2. You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it; and you shall overlay it with brass. 3. You shall make its pots to take away its ashes, its shovels, its basins, its meat hooks, and its fire pans: all its vessels you shall make of brass. 4. You shall make a grating for it of network of brass: and on the net you shall make four bronze rings in its four corners. 5. You shall put it under the ledge around the altar beneath, that the net may reach halfway up the altar. 6. You shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with brass. 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 it with hollow planks. They shall make it as it has been shown you on the mountain. 9. “You shall make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen one hundred cubits long for one side: 10. and its pillars shall be twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver. 11. Likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; 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 fifty cubits; their pillars ten, and their sockets ten. 13. The width of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits. 14. The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. 15. For the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. 16. For the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer; their pillars four, and their sockets four. 17. All the pillars of the court around shall be filleted with silver; their hooks of silver, and their sockets of brass. 18. The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, and the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits, of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass. 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 brass. 20. “You shall command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually. 21. In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall keep it in order from evening to morning before Yahweh: it shall be a statute forever throughout their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel. 1. “Bring Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, near to you from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. 2. You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. 3. You shall speak to all who are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office. 4. These are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, and his sons, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office. 5. They shall take the gold, and the blue, and the purple, and the scarlet, and the fine linen. 6. “They shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman. 7. It shall have two shoulder straps joined to the two ends of it, that it may be joined together. 8. The skillfully woven band, which is on it, that is on him, shall be like its work and of the same piece; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. 9. You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel: 10. six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the six that remain on the other stone, in the order of their birth. 11. With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones, according to the names of the children of Israel: you shall make them to be enclosed in settings of gold. 12. You shall put the two stones on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before Yahweh on his two shoulders for a memorial. 13. You shall make settings of gold, 14. and two chains of pure gold; you shall make them like cords of braided work: and you shall put the braided chains on the settings. 15. “You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, you shall make it. 16. It shall be square and folded double; a span shall be its length of it, and a span its width. 17. You shall set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row of ruby, topaz, and beryl shall be the first row; 18. and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald; 19. and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 20. and the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be enclosed in gold in their settings. 21. The stones shall be according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, everyone according to his name, they shall be for the twelve tribes. 22. You shall make on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold. 23. You shall make on the breastplate two rings of gold, and shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. 24. You shall put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate. 25. The other two ends of the two braided chains you shall put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in its forepart. 26. You shall make two rings of gold, and you shall put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which is toward the side of the ephod inward. 27. You shall make two rings of gold, and shall put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its forepart, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 28. They shall bind the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate may not swing out from the ephod. 29. Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment on his heart, when he goes in to the holy place, for a memorial before Yahweh continually. 30. You shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before Yahweh: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel on his heart before Yahweh continually. 31. “You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. 32. It shall have a hole for the head in the middle of it. It shall have a binding of woven work around its hole, as it were the hole of a coat of mail, that it not be torn. 33. On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, around its hem; and bells of gold between and around them: 34. a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe. 35. It shall be on Aaron to minister: and its sound shall be heard when he goes in to the holy place before Yahweh, and when he comes out, that he not die. 36. “You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘HOLY TO YAHWEH.’ 37. You shall put it on a lace of blue, and it shall be on the sash; on the front of the sash it shall be. 38. It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall make holy in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always on his forehead, that they may be accepted before Yahweh. 39. You shall weave the coat in checker work of fine linen, and you shall make a turban of fine linen, and you shall make a sash, the work of the embroiderer. 40. “You shall make coats for Aaron’s sons, and you shall make sashes for them and you shall make headbands for them, for glory and for beauty. 41. You shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to me in the priest’s office. 42. You shall make them linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness; from the waist even to the thighs they shall reach: 43. They shall be on Aaron, and on his sons, when they go in to the Tent of Meeting, or when they come near to the altar to minister in the holy place; that they don’t bear iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute forever to him and to his offspring after him.

1. Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, 2. by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4. that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5. and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. 7. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8. and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. 9. For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God. 10. But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11. Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed. 12. Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13. But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. 14. If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain. 15. Yes, we are also found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn’t raise up, if it is so that the dead are not raised. 16. For if the dead aren’t raised, neither has Christ been raised. 17. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. 18. Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19. If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable. 20. But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21. For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. 22. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s, at his coming. 24. Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27. For, “He put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when he says, “All things are put in subjection”, it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him. 28. When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all. 29. Or else what will they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead aren’t raised at all, why then are they baptized for the dead? 30. Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour? 31. I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32. If I fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then “let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33. Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.” 34. Wake up righteously, and don’t sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. 35. But someone will say, “How are the dead raised?” and, “With what kind of body do they come?” 36. You foolish one, that which you yourself sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37. That which you sow, you don’t sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of some other kind. 38. But God gives it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own. 39. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. 40. There are also celestial bodies, and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial. 41. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 42. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable. 43. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body. 45. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46. However that which is spiritual isn’t first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual. 47. The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven. 48. As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49. As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s also bear the image of the heavenly. 50. Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable. 51. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52. in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53. For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54. But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55. “Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?” 56. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I commanded the assemblies of Galatia, you do likewise. 2. On the first day of the week, let each one of you save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. 3. When I arrive, I will send whoever you approve with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem. 4. If it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me. 5. But I will come to you when I have passed through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia. 6. But with you it may be that I will stay, or even winter, that you may send me on my journey wherever I go. 7. For I do not wish to see you now in passing, but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. 8. But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9. for a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 10. Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear, for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11. Therefore let no one despise him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers. 12. Now concerning Apollos, the brother, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now; but he will come when he has an opportunity. 13. Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong! 14. Let all that you do be done in love. 15. Now I beg you, brothers (you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to serve the saints), 16. that you also be in subjection to such, and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. 17. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your part, they supplied. 18. For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge those who are like that. 19. The assemblies of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you much in the Lord, together with the assembly that is in their house. 20. All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 21. This greeting is by me, Paul, with my own hand. 22. If any man doesn’t love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. Come, Lord! 23. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.

1. God, give the king your justice; your righteousness to the royal son. 2. He will judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. 3. The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people. The hills bring the fruit of righteousness. 4. He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, and will break the oppressor in pieces. 5. They shall fear you while the sun endures; and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. 6. He will come down like rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the earth. 7. In his days, the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more. 8. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth. 9. Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him. His enemies shall lick the dust. 10. The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. 11. Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him. 12. For he will deliver the needy when he cries; the poor, who has no helper. 13. He will have pity on the poor and needy. He will save the souls of the needy. 14. He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight. 15. They shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba. Men shall pray for him continually. They shall bless him all day long. 16. Abundance of grain shall be throughout the land. Its fruit sways like Lebanon. Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field. 17. His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed. 18. Praise be to Yahweh God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. 19. Blessed be his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and amen. 20. This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse.