The Cloud Covering the Tabernacle

15 (A)On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And (B)at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day[a] and the appearance of fire by night. 17 And whenever the cloud (C)lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped. 18 At the command of the Lord the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the Lord they camped. (D)As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel (E)kept the charge of the Lord and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they remained in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they set out. 21 And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out. 22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel (F)remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. 23 At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out. (G)They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses.

The Silver Trumpets

10 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for (H)summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. And when (I)both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. But if they blow only one, then (J)the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. When you blow an alarm, (K)the camps that are on the east side shall set out. And when you blow an alarm the second time, (L)the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, (M)you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not (N)sound an alarm. (O)And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations. And (P)when you go to war in your land against the adversary who (Q)oppresses you, then you shall (R)sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be (S)remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. 10 (T)On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and (U)at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be (V)a reminder of you before your God: I am the Lord your God.”

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 9:16 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew lacks by day

14 (A)Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; 15 and Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal and Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zichri, son of Asaph; 16 and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.

17 The gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their kinsmen (Shallum was the chief); 18 until then they were (B)in the king's gate on the east side as the gatekeepers of the camps of the Levites. 19 Shallum the son of Kore, son of (C)Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his kinsmen of his fathers' house, the (D)Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent, as their fathers had been in charge of the camp of the Lord, keepers of the entrance. 20 And (E)Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the chief officer over them in time past; the Lord was with him. 21 (F)Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 22 All these, who were chosen as gatekeepers at the thresholds, were 212. They were enrolled by genealogies in their villages. (G)David and Samuel (H)the seer established them in their office of trust. 23 So they and their sons were in charge of the gates of the house of the Lord, that is, the house of the tent, as guards. 24 The gatekeepers were on the four sides, east, west, north, and south. 25 And their kinsmen who were (I)in their villages were obligated to come (J)in every seven days, in turn, to be with these, 26 for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted to be over (K)the chambers and the treasures of the house of God. 27 And they lodged around the house of God, for on them lay the duty of watching, and (L)they had charge of opening it every morning.

28 Some of them had charge of the utensils of service, for they were required to count them when they were brought in and taken out. 29 Others of them were appointed over the furniture and over all the holy utensils, also over the (M)fine flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, and the spices. 30 Others, of the sons of the priests, (N)prepared the mixing of the spices, 31 and Mattithiah, one of the Levites, the firstborn of (O)Shallum the (P)Korahite, was entrusted with (Q)making the flat cakes. 32 Also some of their kinsmen of the Kohathites had (R)charge of the showbread, to prepare it every Sabbath.

33 Now these, the (S)singers, the heads of fathers' houses of the Levites, were in the chambers of the temple free from other service, for they were on duty day and night. 34 These were heads of fathers' houses of the Levites, according to their generations, leaders. These lived in Jerusalem.

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The Valley of Dry Bones

37 (A)The hand of the Lord was upon me, and (B)he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley;[a] it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, (C)“Son of man, (D)can these bones live?” And (E)I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, (F)“Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, (G)O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause (H)breath[b] to enter you, and you shall live. (I)And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and (J)cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, (K)and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

So I prophesied (L)as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, (M)a rattling,[c] and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But (N)there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, (O)“Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, (P)son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from (Q)the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 10 So I prophesied (R)as he commanded me, and (S)the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

11 Then he said to me, (T)“Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and (U)our hope is lost; (V)we are indeed cut off.’ 12 Therefore (W)prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, (X)I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And (Y)I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And (Z)you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14 And (AA)I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; (AB)I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 37:1 Or plain; also verse 2
  2. Ezekiel 37:5 Or spirit; also verses 6, 9, 10
  3. Ezekiel 37:7 Or an earthquake (compare 3:12, 13)

Restore Our Fortunes, O Lord

A Song of (A)Ascents.

126 When the Lord (B)restored the fortunes of Zion,
    we were like those who (C)dream.
Then our (D)mouth was filled with laughter,
    and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
    (E)“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us;
    we are glad.

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
    like streams in the Negeb!
(F)Those who sow in tears
    shall reap with shouts of joy!
He who goes out weeping,
    bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
    bringing his sheaves with him.

Unless the Lord Builds the House

A Song of (G)Ascents. Of Solomon.

127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
    those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord (H)watches over the city,
    the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
    and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious (I)toil;
    for he gives to his (J)beloved (K)sleep.

Behold, (L)children are a heritage from the Lord,
    (M)the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of (N)a warrior
    are the children[a] of one's youth.
Blessed is the man
    who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
    when he speaks with his enemies (O)in the gate.[b]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 127:4 Or sons
  2. Psalm 127:5 Or They shall not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies in the gate

Jesus and Zacchaeus

19 (A)He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And (B)he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into (C)a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for (D)I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and (E)received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all (F)grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods (G)I give to the poor. And if I have (H)defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it (I)fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since (J)he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For (K)the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

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Children and Parents

(A)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (B)“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, (C)but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Bondservants and Masters

(D)Bondservants,[a] obey your earthly masters[b] with fear and trembling, (E)with a sincere heart, (F)as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as (G)people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, (H)knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, (I)whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, (J)and stop your threatening, knowing that (K)he who is both their Master[c] and yours is in heaven, and that (L)there is no partiality with him.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 6:5 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 6; likewise for bondservant in verse 8
  2. Ephesians 6:5 Or your masters according to the flesh
  3. Ephesians 6:9 Greek Lord

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