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The clothes for the priests
39 The workers used blue, purple and red material to make beautiful clothes for the priests. They would wear them when they served God in the Holy Place. They made these special clothes for Aaron, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
The ephod
2 The workers used gold, and blue, purple and red material, as well as good linen, to make the ephod. 3 They used a hammer to hit the gold to make thin pieces. Then they cut these pieces into narrow strings. A worker with special skills used the gold strings to make the blue, purple and red material, and the good linen, look very beautiful. 4 The workers fixed pieces of cloth on the two edges of the ephod. These pieces went over the priest's shoulders to join the front and the back parts of the ephod.
5 They made the beautiful belt to tie around the ephod. The belt and the ephod were one piece of work. They used the same materials to make both of them: gold, blue, purple and red material and good linen. They made them in the way that the Lord had commanded Moses.
6 The workers fixed the onyx stones into beautiful gold around their edges. A worker used a sharp tool to write on them the names of the sons of Israel. 7 They fixed the two onyx stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod. They showed the names of the 12 sons of Israel, so that the Lord would remember to bless his people. The Lord had commanded Moses to do this.
The breastpiece
8 A worker used special skills to make the breastpiece, so that it looked beautiful. He made it like the ephod. He used gold, blue, purple and red material as well as good linen to make it. 9 They bent a piece of cloth over to make a square pocket, 22 centimetres long and 22 centimetres wide. 10 Then they fixed four rows of jewels on it.[a] These are the names of the jewels: A ruby, a topaz and a beryl in the first row. 11 A turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald in the second row. 12 A jacinth, an agate and an amethyst in the third row. 13 A chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper in the fourth row. They fixed each jewel into beautiful gold around its edges. 14 There were 12 jewels, one jewel for each of Israel's sons. They used a sharp tool to write one tribe's name on each jewel.
15 They used pure gold to make two thin chains like strings, to fix the breastpiece to the ephod 16 Then they made two gold rings with beautiful gold around the edges. They fixed the rings to the two top corners of the breastpiece. 17 They fixed the two gold chains to the rings on the corners of the breastpiece. 18 They fixed the other ends of the two chains to the shoulder pieces of the ephod, in the front. They joined them to the gold pieces that held the onyx stones.
19 They made two gold rings and they fixed them to the bottom corners of the breastpiece. They were on its inside edge, next to the ephod. 20 Then they made two more gold rings. They fixed them to the bottom edge of the shoulder pieces, on the front of the ephod. They put the rings just above the ephod's belt. 21 They used a string of blue material to tie the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod. They fixed them together above the ephod's belt, so that the breastpiece would not become separate. The workers made all these things as the Lord had commanded Moses.
The other clothes for the priests
22 The workers used only blue cloth to make the robe for the ephod.[b] 23 They made a hole in the top of the robe, in the middle. They made an edge around the hole so that it would not tear. The priest's head would go through this hole. 24 They used blue, purple and red materials and good linen to make pictures of pomegranates. These were around the bottom edge of the robe. 25 They used pure gold to make little bells. They fixed the bells between the pomegranates on the bottom edge of the robe. 26 So there was a bell, then a pomegranate, another bell then a pomegranate, all around the edge of the robe. The priest would wear this robe when he served the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
27 The workers made long shirts for Aaron and his sons, the priests. They used good linen to make cloth for the shirts. 28 They also used good linen to make Aaron's special hat, as well as hats for the other priests. They used special soft linen to make the trousers that they wore next to their skin. 29 A worker used special skills to make the long belt, so that it looked beautiful. He used blue, purple and red materials to make it, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
30 The workers used pure gold to make a thin plate as a holy sign. They wrote these words on it carefully with a sharp tool: ‘Holy to the Lord’. 31 They fixed a blue string to the plate, to tie it to the front of the special hat. The Lord had commanded Moses to do this.
Moses checks the tabernacle
32 So the workers finished making everything for the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting. The Israelites made everything exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses. 33 Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses. They brought the tent and all the things that would be in it. They brought the hooks, boards, sticks, poles and bases. 34 They brought the red leather from sheep's skins, and the other kinds of good leather that covered the tent. They also brought the curtain that hid the Most Holy Place. 35 They brought the Covenant Box with its poles and its special lid. 36 They brought the special table with all its dishes, and the special bread to put on the table for the Lord.
37 They brought the gold lampstand with its lamps, and the oil and the tools to make the lamps give light. 38 They brought the gold altar, the special oil, the sweet incense and the curtain for the entrance of the tabernacle. 39 They brought the bronze altar and its bronze net, with its poles and all its tools. They brought the large bowl for water and its base. 40 They brought the curtains for the yard and the curtain for the entrance to the yard, with their poles and their bases. They brought all the ropes and the pegs to fix those things to the ground. They brought everything that the priests needed to serve the Lord in the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting.
41 They also brought the special clothes for Aaron and his sons to wear when they served the Lord as priests in the Holy Place.
42 The Israelites did all the work in the way that the Lord had commanded Moses. 43 Moses carefully checked all the work. He saw that the workers had done it exactly as the Lord had commanded them.
When Moses saw this, he blessed the people.
Moses puts up the tabernacle
40 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 ‘On the first day of the first month, put up the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting.[c] 3 Put the Covenant Box in the tabernacle and hide it behind the special curtain. 4 Bring in the special table and put the dishes on it. Then bring in the lampstand. Fix its lamps on it. 5 Put the gold altar for incense in front of the Covenant Box. Hang the curtain that will be at the entrance to the tabernacle.
6 Put the altar for burnt offerings in front of the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 7 Put the large bowl for water between the Tent of Meeting and the altar. Put water in the bowl. 8 Hang the curtains around the yard of the tabernacle, as well as the curtain at the entrance to the yard.
9 Take the special oil that makes things holy. Pour some oil on the tabernacle and on everything that is in it. Offer the tabernacle and all its things to God, and then it will be holy. 10 Then pour some oil on the altar for burnt offerings and all its tools. Offer it all to God, and then it will be completely holy. 11 Pour some oil on the large bowl for water and on its base to offer them to God.
12 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Wash them with water. 13 Then dress Aaron in the special clothes for the priest. Pour some of the special oil on his head. Offer him to me to serve me as my priest. 14 Also bring his sons and dress them in the special long shirts. 15 Pour some oil on their heads, as you did to their father. Then they too may serve me as my priests. In this way, they and their descendants will always continue to serve me as priests.’
16 Moses did all these things, as the Lord had commanded him.
17 So they put up the tabernacle on the first day of the first month. It was in the second year after they had left Egypt. 18 When Moses put up the tabernacle, he first put the metal bases in their right places. Then he put up the boards, the bars to hold them, and the poles. 19 Then he covered the tabernacle with the tent and he put the leather covers over the tent. He did this in the way that the Lord had commanded him.
20 Moses took the two flat stones with God's special commands on them. He put them inside the Covenant Box. He put the poles through the rings on the box. He put the special lid on top of the box. 21 Then he brought the Covenant Box into the tabernacle. He hung the special curtain to hide it, so that nobody could see it. He did this in the way that the Lord had commanded him.
22 Moses put the special table inside the Tent of Meeting. He put it outside the curtain, on the north side of the Holy Place. 23 He put the special bread on the table as an offering to the Lord, as the Lord had commanded him.
24 He also put the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting. He put it on the south side of the Holy Place, opposite the table. 25 Then he put the lamps in their places in front of the Lord, as the Lord had commanded him.
26 Moses put the gold altar in the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain that hid the Covenant Box. 27 He burned sweet incense on it, as the Lord had commanded him. 28 Then he hung the curtain at the entrance of the tent.
29 He put the altar for burnt offerings outside the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. He offered a burnt offering and a grain offering on it, as the Lord had commanded him.
30 Moses put the large bowl for water between the Tent of Meeting and the altar. He put water in it for the priests to wash themselves. 31 Moses and Aaron and Aaron's sons used the water to wash their hands and their feet. 32 They washed themselves every time that they went into the Tent of Meeting. They also washed themselves before they went to offer sacrifices at the altar. They did what the Lord had commanded Moses to do.
33 Moses also made the yard around the tabernacle and round the altar. He hung the curtain at the entrance of the yard.
In that way, Moses finished the work.
The glory of the Lord
34 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not go into the Tent of Meeting because of the cloud and the bright glory of the Lord.
36 The Israelites followed the cloud during all their journeys. Every time that the cloud rose up from the tabernacle, they would continue on their journey. 37 But if the cloud remained on the tabernacle, the Israelites did not travel. They stayed where they were until the day when the cloud rose up. 38 So the cloud stayed over the tabernacle during the day, to show that the Lord was with them. During the night, there was fire in the cloud. All the Israelites could see the cloud during all their journeys.
The start of the good news
1 This is the start of the good news about Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God. 2 The prophet Isaiah wrote this message from God in his book:[a]
‘Listen! I will send someone to prepare a way for you.
He will tell people my message.
3 His voice will shout in the wilderness:
“The Lord will come soon, so prepare a way for him.
Make the paths straight for him.” ’[b]
4 So John went to a place in the wilderness. He baptized people and he spoke a message from God.[c] He said to people, ‘You have done many wrong things. You must turn away from them and change how you live. Then God will forgive you and I will baptize you.’
5 Many people who lived in Jerusalem and in the country of Judea went to listen to John.[d] The people told God about all the wrong things that they had done. Then John baptized them in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothes made from the hair of a camel. He also wore a belt made from leather. His usual food was locusts and honey from the wilderness.
7 John said to the people, ‘Another person will come soon. He is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to undo his shoes for him. 8 I have baptized you with water. But this man will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’
John baptizes Jesus
9 Soon after this, Jesus came from the town of Nazareth in Galilee. John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 While Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the skies open. The Holy Spirit came down like a dove and he stayed on Jesus. 11 A voice spoke from heaven: ‘You are my Son and I love you. You make me very happy.’
Satan tries to cause Jesus to do wrong things
12 Immediately, the Holy Spirit sent Jesus out into the wilderness. 13 Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days. During this time, Satan tried to cause him to do wrong things. There were wild animals with Jesus in the wilderness. God's angels took care of him.
Jesus asks some men to be his disciples
14 Later, John was in prison. At that time, Jesus went to Galilee.[e] He told people the good news about God. 15 Jesus said, ‘Now is the time when the kingdom of God has come very near. You have done many wrong things. Turn away from them and change the way that you live. Believe God's good news.’
16 One day, Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee. He saw two brothers called Simon and Andrew.[f] Their job was to catch fish. They were throwing their nets into the lake to catch fish. 17 Jesus said to them, ‘Come with me and be my disciples. Then I will teach you how to catch people, instead of fish.’[g] 18 Simon and Andrew immediately put down their nets and they went with Jesus.[h]
19 Jesus continued to walk along the shore. Soon he saw two more men who were brothers. They were called James and John. They were the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat and they were mending their nets. 20 Immediately, Jesus asked them to come with him. They left their father and his workers in the boat, and they went with Jesus to be his disciples.
Jesus causes a bad spirit to leave a man
21 Then Jesus and those disciples went into a town called Capernaum. On the next Jewish day of rest, Jesus went into the Jews' meeting place.[i] He began to teach the people there.
22 The people were very surprised at the things that Jesus taught them. When he taught them, he showed his authority. That was not like the way that the teachers of God's Law taught people. 23 In the meeting place, there was a man who had a bad spirit. The bad spirit caused the man to shout. 24 He said, ‘Jesus from Nazareth, leave us alone! Do not kill us! I know who you are. You are the Holy One and God has sent you.’
25 Jesus said to the bad spirit, ‘Be quiet! Come out of the man!’ 26 The bad spirit caused the man to shake and to fall down. It shouted loudly and then it came out of the man.
27 All the people were very surprised and they said to each other, ‘This is very strange. This man Jesus is teaching us something new and he speaks with authority. He can tell bad spirits what they must do. Then they do it.’ 28 Immediately, people began to hear the news about Jesus. Everywhere in Galilee, people were talking about him.
David wrote this song.
God, please help me
35 Lord, please attack those people who are attacking me.
Fight against those people who are fighting against me.
2 Yes, pick up your shield
and put on your armour!
Prepare to fight and give me help!
3 Take your spears and throw them,
to stop the people who are chasing me.
Say to me, ‘I will make you safe.’
4 Cause the people who want to kill me
to become ashamed.
Chase away the people who want to hurt me,
so that they become confused.
5 Make them become like chaff
that the wind blows away.
Send the angel of the Lord
to chase them away.
6 Make their way dark and dangerous,
as the angel of the Lord chases after them.
7 They hid a trap to catch me.
There was no reason for them to do that.
They even dug a deep hole for me to fall into.
8 Surprise my enemies and destroy them!
Let their own traps catch them!
Let them fall to their own death!
9 Then I will be happy
because of what the Lord has done.
I will be happy
because he has made me safe.
10 I will shout with all my strength,
‘Lord, who is like you?
When strong people try to hurt weak people,
you are the one who keeps the weak people safe.
You also keep poor people safe
when robbers try to take things from them.’
11 Cruel people tell lies against me in court.
I do not even know what they are talking about.
12 When I do good things to help them,
they pay me back with evil things!
That makes me feel very sad and upset.
13 When they were ill,
I wore rough clothes,
and I stopped eating food.
I bent down my head as I prayed for them.
14 I wept as I prayed,
as I would weep when a friend or my mother had died.
15 But when I had troubles myself,
they were happy.
They stood together
and they laughed at me.
Even strangers attacked me
and they would not stop.
16 Useless people like that insulted me,
and they showed their teeth to frighten me.
11 Wisdom will add more days and years to your life.
12 If you are wise, it will help you in many ways. But if you think that you do not need wisdom, you will bring trouble on yourself.
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