The Daily Audio Bible

Making the Clothes of the Religious Leader

39 They used the blue, purple and red cloth for the well-made clothing for those working in the holy place. They made the holy clothing for Aaron, just as the Lord had told Moses.

Making the Linen Vest

² Bezalel made the linen vest of gold and blue, purple and red cloth and fine linen. ³ They beat the gold into plates. Then they cut them into strings to be sewed in with the blue, purple and red cloth and the fine linen, the work of an able workman. ⁴ They made shoulder pieces for the linen vest, joined at its two top ends. ⁵ The well-made belt on it was made of the same gold, and blue, purple and red cloth and fine linen, just as the Lord had told Moses. ⁶ They set the onyx stones into beautiful pieces of gold. The names of Israel’s sons were cut in the stones like the writing on a ring by an able workman. ⁷ They were put on the shoulder pieces of the linen vest, to help them remember the sons of Israel, just as the Lord had told Moses.

Making the Breast-Piece

⁸ Bezalel made the breast-piece, the work of an able workman. It was like the work of the linen vest, of gold, and blue, purple and red cloth and fine linen. ⁹ It was as long as it was wide, with one half laid over the other. It was made as long and as wide as a man’s fingers can spread. ¹⁰ They put four rows of stones on it. The first row was a ruby, a topaz and an emerald. ¹¹ The second row was a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond. ¹² The third row was a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst. ¹³ And the fourth row was a beryl, an onyx and a jasper. They were set in beautiful pieces of gold. ¹⁴ Each of the twelve stones had written on it the name of one of the sons of Israel. Each name spoke of one of the twelve family groups. ¹⁵ They made chains for the breast-piece, like ropes of pure gold. ¹⁶ And they made two gold rings and put them on the two ends of the breast-piece. ¹⁷ They joined the two gold chains to the two rings at the ends of the breast-piece. ¹⁸ They joined the other two ends of the two chains to the beautiful gold pieces that hold the two stones at the shoulders, joining them in the front. ¹⁹ They made two gold rings to put on the two ends of the breast-piece, on the inside next to the linen vest. ²⁰ Then they made two gold rings and put them on the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the linen vest in front, near where they join. They were above the belt of the linen vest. ²¹ They tied the rings of the breast-piece to the rings of the linen vest with a blue rope. So the breast-piece could not come loose from the linen vest, just as the Lord had told Moses.

Making Other Pieces of Clothes

²² Then he made the long piece of clothing all of blue. ²³ There was an opening at its top in the center. Around the opening it was sewed like the opening on heavy battle-clothes, so it could not be torn. ²⁴ They made pomegranates of blue, purple and red cloth and fine linen, to put all around the bottom of this clothing. ²⁵ They made bells of pure gold. And they put the bells between the pomegranates all around the bottom of the clothing. ²⁶ They put a bell and then a pomegranate all around the bottom of this clothing. It was for the work of the Lord, and was just as the Lord had told Moses.

²⁷ They made the long coats of fine linen for Aaron and his sons. ²⁸ They made the beautiful head coverings of fine linen and the clothing that covered the flesh from the belt to the legs. ²⁹ And they made the wide belt of fine linen and blue, purple and red cloth which was the work of an able workman, just as the Lord had told Moses. ³⁰ They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold. And they cut in it like the writings on a ring: “Holy to the Lord.” ³¹ They joined it to the front of the head covering with a blue rope, just as the Lord had told Moses.

The Work Finished

³² So all the work of the holy tent, the meeting tent, was finished. The sons of Israel did all that the Lord had told Moses. ³³ They brought the meeting tent to Moses, the tent and all its objects, its hooks, all kinds of pieces of wood, pillars and bases. ³⁴ They brought the covering of rams’ skins made red, the covering of badgers’ skins, and the curtain to hang in front of the most holy place. ³⁵ They brought the special box of the agreement, its long pieces of wood for carrying it and its mercy-seat, ³⁶ the table and all its objects, the bread to be put before the Lord, ³⁷ the pure gold lamp-stand with its lamps, all its objects and the oil for the light. ³⁸ They brought the gold altar, the oil for holy use, the sweet-smelling perfume, and the curtain for the door of the meeting tent. ³⁹ They brought the brass altar, its brass net, its long pieces of wood for carrying it and all its objects, the washing pot and its stand, ⁴⁰ the curtains for the open space, its pillars and bases, the curtain for the gate of the open space, its ropes and nails, and all the tools for the work of the meeting tent. ⁴¹ They brought the clothing for the work in the holy place, the holy clothing for Aaron the religious leader, and the clothing of his sons for their work as religious leaders. ⁴² So the people of Israel did all the work just as the Lord had told Moses. ⁴³ Moses looked at all the work and saw they had done it just as the Lord had said. So Moses gave thanks and prayed that good would come to them.

Putting Up the Meeting Tent and Setting It Apart

40 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Set up the holy tent, the meeting tent, on the first day of the first month. ³ Put the special box of the Law there. And hang the curtain in front of it. ⁴ Bring in the table and set its objects on it. Bring in the lamp-stand and light its lamps. ⁵ Set the gold altar of special perfume in front of the box of the Law. Hang the curtain for the door of the meeting tent. ⁶ Set the altar of burnt gifts in front of the door of the holy tent, the meeting tent. ⁷ Set the washing pot between the meeting tent and the altar and put water in it. ⁸ Hang the curtains all around the open space and hang the curtain at the gate of the open space. ⁹ Then take the oil and pour it upon the meeting tent and all that is in it. Set it apart with all its objects, and it will be holy. ¹⁰ Pour the oil upon the altar of burnt gifts and all its objects. Set the altar apart, and it will be most holy. ¹¹ Pour the oil upon the washing pot and its stand, to set it apart.

¹² “Then bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the meeting tent. And wash them with water. ¹³ Put the holy clothing on Aaron. Then pour oil upon him and set him apart to work for Me as a religious leader. ¹⁴ Bring his sons and put long coats on them. ¹⁵ Then pour oil upon them as you have done to their father, so they may serve Me as religious leaders. Pouring oil upon them will make them ready to be religious leaders, they and all their children-to-come.”

¹⁶ Moses did all that the Lord told him to do. ¹⁷ On the first day of the first month of the second year, the meeting tent was set up. ¹⁸ Moses set up the meeting tent, laid the bases, set up its pieces of wood, put in its cross-pieces and set up its pillars. ¹⁹ He spread the covering over the meeting tent. And he put the top covering over it, just as the Lord had told Moses. ²⁰ Then he took the Law and put it into the special box. He put the long pieces of wood on the special box of the agreement. And he put the mercy-seat on top of the special box. ²¹ He brought the special box into the meeting tent and hung the curtain. He put the curtain in front of the special box of the agreement, just as the Lord had told Moses. ²² Then he put the table in the meeting tent, on the north side of the tent, outside the curtain. ²³ He set the bread in its place on the table before the Lord, just as the Lord had told Moses. ²⁴ Then he put the lamp-stand in the meeting tent, away from the table, on the south side of the tent. ²⁵ He set up the lamps before the Lord, just as the Lord had told Moses. ²⁶ He put the gold altar in the tent of meeting, in front of the curtain. ²⁷ And he burned sweet-smelling perfume on it, just as the Lord had told Moses. ²⁸ Then he hung the curtain at the door of the meeting tent. ²⁹ He set the altar of burnt gifts in front of the door of the meeting tent. And he gave the burnt gift and the grain gift on it, just as the Lord had told Moses. ³⁰ He put the washing pot between the tent of meeting and the altar, with water in it for washing. ³¹ Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and feet there. ³² They washed when they came into the tent of meeting and when they came near the altar, just as the Lord had told Moses. ³³ He made the open space all around the meeting tent and the altar. And he hung the curtain for the gate of the open space. So Moses finished the work.

The Cloud over the Meeting Tent

³⁴ Then the cloud covered the meeting tent. The shining-greatness of the Lord filled the holy tent.

³⁵ Moses was not able to go into the meeting tent because the cloud had rested upon it and the shining-greatness of the Lord filled the holy tent. ³⁶ When the cloud was lifted from the meeting tent, the people of Israel would go on their way through all their traveling days. ³⁷ But when the cloud was not lifted, they did not move on until the day when it was lifted. ³⁸ For the cloud of the Lord rested on the meeting tent during the day. And fire was in the cloud during the night. It was seen by all the people of Israel as they traveled.

John the Baptist Makes the Way Ready for the Coming of Jesus ^(A)

1 The Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, ² begins with the words of the early preachers: “Listen! I will send My helper to carry the news ahead of you. He will make the way ready. ³ His voice calls out in the desert, ‘Make the way ready for the Lord. Make the road straight for Him!’” ^(B)

⁴ John the Baptist preached in the desert. He preached that people should be baptized because they were sorry for their sins and had turned from them. And they would be forgiven. ⁵ People from over all the country of Judea and from Jerusalem came to him. They told of their sins and were baptized by John in the Jordan River.

⁶ John wore clothes made of hair from camels. He had a leather belt around him. His food was locusts and wild honey. ⁷ He preached, saying, “One is coming after me Who is greater than I. I am not good enough to get down and help Him take off His shoes. ⁸ I have baptized you with water. But He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism of Jesus ^(C)

⁹ Jesus came to the Jordan River from the town of Nazareth in the country of Galilee. He was baptized by John. ¹⁰ As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw heaven open up. The Holy Spirit came down on Him like a dove. ¹¹ A voice came from heaven and said, “You are My much-loved Son. I am very happy with You.”

Jesus Was Tempted ^(D)

¹² At once the Holy Spirit sent Jesus to a desert. ¹³ He was tempted by Satan for forty days there. He was with wild animals but angels took care of Him.

Jesus Preaches in Galilee ^(E)

¹⁴ After John the Baptist was put in prison, Jesus came to the country of Galilee. He preached the Good News of God. ¹⁵ He said, “The time has come. The holy nation of God is near. Be sorry for your sins, turn from them, and believe the Good News.”

Jesus Calls Simon and Andrew ^(F)

¹⁶ Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee. He saw Simon and his brother Andrew putting a net into the sea. They were fishermen. ¹⁷ Jesus said to them, “Follow Me. I will make you fish for men!” ¹⁸ At once they left their nets and followed Him.

Jesus Calls James and John

¹⁹ Jesus went on a little farther. He saw James and his brother John who were sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat mending their nets. ²⁰ Jesus called them and they left their father Zebedee. He was in the boat with men who were working for him.

Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon ^(G)

²¹ Jesus and His followers went to the city of Capernaum on the Day of Rest. They went to the Jewish place of worship where Jesus taught the people. ²² The people were surprised and wondered about His teaching. He taught them as One Who had the right and the power to teach and not as the teachers of the Law.

²³ There was a man in the Jewish place of worship who had a demon. The demon cried out, ²⁴ “What do You want of us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know Who You are. You are the Holy One of God.” ²⁵ Jesus spoke sharp words to the demon and said, “Do not talk! Come out of the man!” ²⁶ The demon threw the man down and gave a loud cry. Then he came out of him. ²⁷ The people were all surprised and wondered. They asked each other, “What is this? Is this a new teaching? He speaks with power even to the demons and they obey Him!” ²⁸ At once the news about Jesus went through all the country around Galilee.

Prayer for Help

35 O Lord, stand against those who stand against me. Fight those who fight me. ² Take hold of a safe-covering and rise up to help me. ³ Take a spear and battle-ax against those who come to get me. Say to my soul, “I am the One Who saves you.” ⁴ Let the people be ashamed and without honor who want to take my life. Let those be turned away and brought to shame who plan to hurt me. ⁵ Let them be like straw in the wind. May the angel of the Lord drive them away. ⁶ Let their way be dark and dangerous, with the angel of the Lord going to get them. ⁷ For without a reason they hid their net for me. Without a reason, they dug a hole for my soul. ⁸ Let them be destroyed before they know it. And let them be caught in their own net. May they destroy themselves as they fall into their own hole.

⁹ My soul will be happy in the Lord. It will be full of joy because He saves. ¹⁰ All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You? Who saves the weak from those too strong for them? Who saves the poor from those who would rob them?” ¹¹ People come telling lies. They ask me of things that I do not know. ¹² They pay me what is bad in return for what is good. My soul is sad. ¹³ But when they were sick, I put on clothes made from hair. With no pride in my soul, I would not eat. And I prayed with my head on my chest. ¹⁴ I went about as if it were my friend or brother. I put my head down in sorrow, like one crying for his mother. ¹⁵ But when I would fall, they would gather together in joy. Those who say things to hurt people would gather against me. I did not know them. They spoke against me without stopping. ¹⁶ They ground their teeth at me like bad people making fun of others at a special supper.

¹¹ For by me your days will grow in number, and years will be added to your life. ¹² If you are wise, your wisdom is a help to you. If you laugh at the truth, you alone will suffer for it.