Curtains of Linen

1“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet material; you shall make them with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. 2The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall have the same measurements. 3Five curtains shall be joined to one another, and the other five curtains shall be joined to one another. 4You shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and likewise you shall make them on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second set. 5You shall make fifty loops in the one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set; the loops shall be opposite each other. 6You shall make fifty clasps of gold, and join the curtains to one another with the clasps so that the tabernacle will be a unit.

Curtains of Goats’ Hair

7“Then you shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; you shall make eleven curtains in all. 8The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; the eleven curtains shall have the same measurements. 9You shall join five curtains by themselves and the other six curtains by themselves, and you shall double over the sixth curtain at the front of the tent. 10You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the first set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second set.

11“You shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and you shall put the clasps into the loops and join the tent together so that it will be a unit. 12The overlapping part that is left over in the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that is left over, shall lap over the back of the tabernacle. 13The cubit on one side and the cubit on the other, of what is left over in the length of the curtains of the tent, shall lap over the sides of the tabernacle on one side and on the other, to cover it. 14You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red and a covering of porpoise skins above.

Boards and Sockets

15“Then you shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright. 16Ten cubits shall be the length of each board and one and a half cubits the width of each board. 17There shall be two tenons for each board, fitted to one another; thus you shall do for all the boards of the tabernacle. 18You shall make the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side. 19You 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; 20and for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards, 21and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board and two sockets under another board. 22For the rear of the tabernacle, to the west, you shall make six boards. 23You shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle at the rear. 24They shall be double beneath, and together they shall be complete to its top to the first ring; thus it shall be with both of them: they shall form the two corners. 25There shall be eight boards with their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board and two sockets under another board.

26“Then you shall make bars of acacia wood, five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle, 27and 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 rear side to the west. 28The middle bar in the center of the boards shall pass through from end to end. 29You shall overlay the boards with gold and make their rings of gold as holders for the bars; and you shall overlay the bars with gold. 30Then you shall erect the tabernacle according to its plan which you have been shown in the mountain.

The Veil and Screen

31“You shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. 32You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, their hooks also being of gold, on four sockets of silver. 33You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall serve for you as a partition between the holy place and the holy of holies. 34You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the holy of holies. 35You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand opposite 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 doorway of the tent of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver. 37You shall make five pillars of acacia for the screen and overlay them with gold, their hooks also being of gold; and you shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.

The Bronze Altar

1“And 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. 2You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze. 3You shall make its pails for removing its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its firepans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze. 4You shall make for it a grating of network of bronze, and on the net you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners. 5You shall put it beneath, under the ledge of the altar, so that the net will reach halfway up the altar. 6You shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. 7Its poles shall be inserted into the rings, so that the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar when it is carried. 8You shall make it hollow with planks; as it was shown to you in the mountain, so they shall make it.

Court of the Tabernacle

9“You shall make the court of the tabernacle. On the south side there shall be hangings for the court of fine twisted linen one hundred cubits long for one side; 10and its pillars shall be twenty, with their twenty sockets of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be of silver. 11Likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its twenty pillars with their twenty sockets of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be of silver. 12For the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits with their ten pillars and their ten sockets. 13The width of the court on the east side shall be fifty cubits. 14The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits with their three pillars and their three sockets. 15And for the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits with their three pillars and their three sockets. 16For the gate of the court there shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver, with their four pillars and their four sockets. 17All the pillars around the court shall be furnished with silver bands with their hooks of silver and their sockets of bronze. 18The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, and the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits of fine twisted linen, and their sockets of bronze. 19All the utensils of the tabernacle used in all its service, and all its pegs, and all the pegs of the court, shall be of bronze.

20“You shall charge the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually. 21In 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 the Lord; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout their generations for the sons of Israel.

Parable of Ten Virgins

1“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

Parable of the Talents

14“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18But 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 slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. 20The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

22“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

24“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

26“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

29“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

PSALM 31

A Psalm of Complaint and of Praise.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

1In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge;

Let me never be ashamed;

In Your righteousness deliver me.

2Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly;

Be to me a rock of strength,

A stronghold to save me.

3For You are my rock and my fortress;

For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.

4You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me,

For You are my strength.

5Into Your hand I commit my spirit;

You have ransomed me, O Lord, God of truth.

6I hate those who regard vain idols,

But I trust in the Lord.

7I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness,

Because You have seen my affliction;

You have known the troubles of my soul,

8And You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy;

You have set my feet in a large place.

The Commendation of Wisdom

1Does not wisdom call,

And understanding lift up her voice?

2On top of the heights beside the way,

Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

3Beside the gates, at the opening to the city,

At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:

4“To you, O men, I call,

And my voice is to the sons of men.

5O naive ones, understand prudence;

And, O fools, understand wisdom.

6Listen, for I will speak noble things;

And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.

7For my mouth will utter truth;

And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness;

There is nothing crooked or perverted in them.

9They are all straightforward to him who understands,

And right to those who find knowledge.

10Take my instruction and not silver,

And knowledge rather than choicest gold.

11For wisdom is better than jewels;

And all desirable things cannot compare with her.