The Daily Audio Bible
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The Tent
26 “You are to make the tent with ten curtains of fine woven[a] linen and with blue, purple, and scarlet material. You are to make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. 2 The length of each curtain is to be 28 cubits,[b] the width of each curtain four cubits,[c] and all the curtains are to have the same measurements.[d]
3 “Five of the curtains are to be joined together, and the other five curtains are to be joined together. 4 You are to make loops of blue material along the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and likewise you are to make loops along the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. 5 You are to make 50 loops in the one curtain, and you are to make 50 loops along the edge of the curtain that is in the second set, with the loops opposite each other. 6 Then you are to make 50 gold clasps, and join the curtains to each other with the clasps so that the tent will be one piece.
7 “You are to make curtains of goat hair for a tent over the tent. You are to make eleven curtains. 8 The length of each curtain is to be 30 cubits,[e] and the width of each curtain two cubits;[f] the measurements of each of the eleven curtains is to be the same.[g] 9 You are to join five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and you are to double over the sixth curtain at the front of the tent. 10 You are to make 50 loops along the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and 50 loops along the edge of the curtain of the other set. 11 You are to make 50 bronze clasps, put the clasps into the loops, and join the tent together so that it will be one piece. 12 As for the excess that remains of the curtains of the tent—the half curtain that remains—is to hang over the back of the tent. 13 The half cubit[h] that remain on either end of the length of the curtains of the tent is to hang over each side of the tent to cover it.
14 “You are to make a cover for the tent of ram skins dyed red[i] and a covering of dolphin[j] skins above that.
15 “You are to make upright boards of acacia wood for the tent. 16 Each board is to be ten cubits[k] long and one and a half cubits[l] wide. 17 Each board is to have two pegs joined to one another, and you are to do this for all the boards of the tent. 18 You are to make the boards for the tent: 20 boards for the south side.[m] 19 And you are to make 40 silver sockets[n] under the 20 boards: two sockets under the one board for its two pegs and two sockets under the next[o] board for its two pegs.
20 “For the second side of the tent to the north you are to make[p] 20 boards 21 and 40 silver sockets for them, two sockets under one board and two sockets under the next board. 22 On the west you are to make six boards for the rear of the tent, 23 and you are to make two boards for the rear corners of the tent. 24 They are to be interlocked together[q] at the bottom and connected[r] on top by one ring. Do this for the two of them, and they are to be the two corners. 25 There is to be eight boards with their sixteen silver sockets, two sockets under one board and two sockets under the next board.
26 “You are to make bars of acacia wood, five for the boards on one side of the tent, 27 five bars for the boards on the second side of the tent, and five bars for the boards on the back side of the tent to the west. 28 The center bar in the middle of the boards is to pass through from end to end. 29 You are to overlay the boards with gold, and you are to make gold rings for them as holders for the bars, and you are to overlay the bars with gold. 30 You are to erect the tent according to the plan for it that was shown you on the mountain.
31 “You are to make a curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine woven linen. You are to make it with cherubim skillfully worked into it. 32 You are to hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, which have hooks of gold, and are set on four sockets of silver. 33 You are to hang the curtain from[s] the clasps and bring the Ark of the Testimony there inside the curtain. The curtain is to separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.
34 “You are to put the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place. 35 You are to put the table outside the curtain. You are to put the table on the north side with the lamp stand opposite the table on the south side of the tent. 36 For the doorway of the tent you are to make a screen of blue, purple, and scarlet material, and with fine woven linen, the work of an embroiderer. 37 You are to make five pillars of acacia for the screens and overlay them with gold. Their hooks are to be of gold, and you are to cast five bronze sockets for them.”
The Altar
27 “You are to make the altar of acacia wood. It is to be five cubits[t] long and five cubits[u] wide; the altar is to be a square, and it is to be three cubits[v] high. 2 You are to make horns[w] on its four corners. Its corners are to be of one piece with it, and you are to overlay it with bronze. 3 You are to make pans for removing its ashes, shovels, bowls, forks, and fire-pans for it, and you are to make all its utensils of bronze. 4 You are to make a lattice, a netting of bronze for it, and you are to make four bronze rings on the netting at its four corners. 5 You are to put it under the ledge of the altar, so that the netting extends halfway up the altar. 6 You are to make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and you are to overlay them with bronze. 7 The poles for it are to be put through the rings, so the poles are on the two sides of the altar when it’s carried. 8 You are to make it hollow out of boards—just as it was shown you on the mountain, that’s how they are to make it.”
The Court of the Tent
9 “You are to make the court of the tent. On the south[x] side there is to be hangings of fine woven linen for the court, 100 cubits[y] long on one side. 10 It is to have 20 pillars, with 20 bronze sockets, and the hooks of the pillars and their bands[z] are to be made of silver. 11 Likewise for the length of the north side there are to be hangings 100 cubits[aa] long, and it is to have 20 pillars with 20 bronze sockets, and the hooks of the pillars and their bands[ab] are to be made of silver.
12 “The width of the court on the west side is to have hangings 50 cubits[ac] long with ten pillars and ten sockets. 13 The width of the court on the east side[ad] is to be 50 cubits.[ae] 14 The hangings for the one section[af] are to be fifteen cubits long,[ag] with their three pillars and three sockets.
15 “For the second section there are to be hangings of fifteen cubits,[ah] with their three pillars and three sockets. 16 There is to be a screen of 20 cubits[ai] of blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine woven linen, the work of an embroiderer, for the gate of the court, and it is to have four pillars and four sockets. 17 All the pillars around the court are to be banded with silver. Their hooks are to be made of silver and their sockets made of bronze. 18 The length of the court is to be 100 cubits,[aj] the width 50 cubits,[ak] and the height five cubits,[al] with the hangings[am] of fine woven linen, and the sockets of bronze. 19 All the utensils of the tent for its service, all its pegs, and all the pegs for the court are to be made of bronze.”
The Oil for the Lamp
20 “And you are to command the Israelis to bring you pure olive oil, extracted by hand,[an] for the light in order to keep the lamp burning[ao] continuously. 21 In the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain that is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to maintain[ap] the lamp stand[aq] from evening until morning in the Lord’s presence. It is to be a perpetual ordinance from generation to generation among the Israelis.”
The Parable about the Ten Bridesmaids
25 “At that time, the kingdom from[a] heaven will be comparable to ten bridesmaids[b] who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the groom.[c] 2 Now five of them were foolish, and five were wise, 3 because when the foolish ones took their lamps, they didn’t take any oil with them. 4 But the wise ones took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 Since the groom was late, all of them became sleepy and lay down. 6 But at midnight there came a shout: ‘The groom is here! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all the bridesmaids[d] woke up and got their lamps ready.
8 “But the foolish ones told the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out!’
9 “But the wise ones replied, ‘No! There will never be enough for us and for you. You’d better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “While they were away buying it, the groom arrived. Those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet, and the door was closed. 11 Later, the other bridesmaids[e] arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘I tell all of you[f] with certainty, I don’t know you!’ 13 So keep on watching, because you don’t know the day or the hour.”[g]
The Parable about the Talents
14 “Similarly, it is like a man going on a trip, who called his servants and turned his money over to them. 15 To one man he gave five talents,[h] to another two, and to another one, based on their ability. Then he went on his trip.
16 “The one who received five talents[i] went out at once and invested them and earned five more. 17 In the same way, the one who had two talents[j] earned two more. 18 But the one who received one talent[k] went off, dug a hole in the ground, and buried his master’s money.
19 “After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received five talents came up and brought five more talents. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you gave me five talents. See, I’ve earned five more talents.’
21 “His master told him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy servant! Since you’ve been trustworthy with a small amount, I’ll put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master’s joy!’
22 “The one with two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I’ve earned two more talents.
23 “His master told him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy servant! Since you’ve been trustworthy with a small amount, I’ll put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master’s joy!’
24 “Then the one who had received one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you haven’t planted and gathering where you haven’t scattered any seed. 25 Since I was afraid, I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here, take what’s yours!’
26 “His master answered him, ‘You evil and lazy servant! So you knew that I harvested where I haven’t planted and gathered where I haven’t scattered any seed? 27 Then you should’ve invested my money with the bankers. When I returned, I would’ve received my money back with interest.’ 28 Then the master said,[l] ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the ten talents, 29 because to everyone who has something, more will be given, and he’ll have more than enough. But from the person who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30 Throw this useless servant into the darkness outside! In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”[m]
To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.
Prayer and Thanksgiving
31 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge.
Let me never be ashamed.
Because you are righteous, deliver me!
2 Listen to me,
and deliver me quickly.
Become a rock of safety for me,
a fortified citadel to deliver me;
3 For you are my rock and my fortress;
for the sake of your name guide me and lead me.
4 Rescue me from the net that they concealed to trap me;
for you are my strength.
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
for you have redeemed me,
Lord God of truth.
6 I despise those who trust vain idols;
but I have trusted in the Lord.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your gracious love,
for you see my affliction
and take note that my soul is distressed.
8 You have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy,
but you have set my feet in a sturdy[a] place.
Wisdom Calls for an Audience
8 Isn’t wisdom calling out;
isn’t understanding raising her voice?
2 On top of the highest places along the road
she stands where the roads meet.
3 Beside the gates, at the city entrance—
at the entrance to the portals she cries aloud:
4 “I’m calling to you, men!
What I have to say pertains[a] to all mankind!
5 Understand prudence, you naïve people;
and gain an understanding heart, you foolish ones.
6 Listen, because I have noble things to say,
and what I have to say[b] will reveal what is right.
7 For my mouth speaks the truth—
wickedness is detestable to me.
8 Everything I have to say is just;
there isn’t anything corrupt or perverse in my speech.[c]
9 Everything I say is sensible to someone who understands,
and correct to those who have acquired knowledge.
10 Grab hold of my instruction in lieu of money
and knowledge instead of the finest gold,
11 because wisdom is better than precious gems[d]
and nothing you desire can compare to it.”
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