Instructions for Christian Living

¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer^(A) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.^{(B) 18} They are darkened in their understanding^(C) and separated from the life of God^(D) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.^{(E) 19} Having lost all sensitivity,^(F) they have given themselves over^(G) to sensuality^(H) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

²⁰ That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off^(I) your old self,^(J) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;^{(K) 23} to be made new in the attitude of your minds;^{(L) 24} and to put on^(M) the new self,^(N) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.^(O)

²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully^(P) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.^{(Q) 26} “In your anger do not sin”^[a]:^(R) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold.^{(S) 28} Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,^(T) doing something useful with their own hands,^(U) that they may have something to share with those in need.^(V)

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,^(W) but only what is helpful for building others up^(X) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,^(Y) with whom you were sealed^(Z) for the day of redemption.^{(AA) 31} Get rid of^(AB) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.^{(AC) 32} Be kind and compassionate to one another,^(AD) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.^(AE)

5 ¹ Follow God’s example,^(A) therefore, as dearly loved children^{(B) 2} and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us^(C) and gave himself up for us^(D) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^(E)

³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,^(F) or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,^(G) because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk^(H) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.^{(I) 5} For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater^(J)—has any inheritance^(K) in the kingdom of Christ and of God.^{[a](L) 6} Let no one deceive you^(M) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath^(N) comes on those who are disobedient.^{(O) 7} Therefore do not be partners with them.

⁸ For you were once^(P) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light^{(Q) 9} (for the fruit^(R) of the light consists in all goodness,^(S) righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord.^{(T) 11} Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,^(U) but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light^(V) becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴ This is why it is said:

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live^(Z)—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity,^(AA) because the days are evil.^{(AB) 17} Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.^{(AC) 18} Do not get drunk on wine,^(AD) which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,^{(AE) 19} speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.^(AF) Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks^(AG) to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Instructions for Christian Households^(AH)

²¹ Submit to one another^(AI) out of reverence for Christ.

²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands^(AJ) as you do to the Lord.^{(AK) 23} For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,^(AL) his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands^(AM) in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives,^(AN) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her^{(AO) 26} to make her holy,^(AP) cleansing^[b] her by the washing^(AQ) with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself^(AR) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.^{(AS) 28} In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives^(AT) as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body.^{(AU) 31} “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^{[c](AV) 32} This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife^(AW) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

The Ark^(A)

37 Bezalel^(B) made the ark^(C) of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.^{[a] 2} He overlaid it with pure gold,^(D) both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. ³ He cast four gold rings for it and fastened them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. ⁴ Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. ⁵ And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.

⁶ He made the atonement cover^(E) of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. ⁷ Then he made two cherubim^(F) out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. ⁸ He made one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; at the two ends he made them of one piece with the cover. ⁹ The cherubim had their wings spread upward, overshadowing^(G) the cover with them. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the cover.^(H)

The Table^(I)

¹⁰ They^[b] made the table^(J) of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high.^{[c] 11} Then they overlaid it with pure gold^(K) and made a gold molding around it. ¹² They also made around it a rim a handbreadth^[d] wide and put a gold molding on the rim. ¹³ They cast four gold rings for the table and fastened them to the four corners, where the four legs were. ¹⁴ The rings^(L) were put close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. ¹⁵ The poles for carrying the table were made of acacia wood and were overlaid with gold. ¹⁶ And they made from pure gold the articles for the table—its plates and dishes and bowls and its pitchers for the pouring out of drink offerings.

The Lampstand^(M)

¹⁷ They made the lampstand^(N) of pure gold. They hammered out its base and shaft, and made its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. ¹⁸ Six branches extended from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. ¹⁹ Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on one branch, three on the next branch and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. ²⁰ And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. ²¹ One bud was under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. ²² The buds and the branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.^(O)

²³ They made its seven lamps,^(P) as well as its wick trimmers and trays, of pure gold. ²⁴ They made the lampstand and all its accessories from one talent^[e] of pure gold.

The Altar of Incense^(Q)

²⁵ They made the altar of incense^(R) out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long and a cubit wide and two cubits high^[f]—its horns^(S) of one piece with it. ²⁶ They overlaid the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. ²⁷ They made two gold rings^(T) below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. ²⁸ They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.^(U)

²⁹ They also made the sacred anointing oil^(V) and the pure, fragrant incense^(W)—the work of a perfumer.

The Altar of Burnt Offering^(X)

38 They^[g] built the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, three cubits^[h] high; it was square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.^{[i] 2} They made a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar were of one piece, and they overlaid the altar with bronze.^{(Y) 3} They made all its utensils^(Z) of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans. ⁴ They made a grating for the altar, a bronze network, to be under its ledge, halfway up the altar. ⁵ They cast bronze rings to hold the poles for the four corners of the bronze grating. ⁶ They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze. ⁷ They inserted the poles into the rings so they would be on the sides of the altar for carrying it. They made it hollow, out of boards.

The Basin for Washing

⁸ They made the bronze basin^(AA) and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women^(AB) who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

The Courtyard^(AC)

⁹ Next they made the courtyard. The south side was a hundred cubits^[j] long and had curtains of finely twisted linen, ¹⁰ with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. ¹¹ The north side was also a hundred cubits long and had twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

¹² The west end was fifty cubits^[k] wide and had curtains, with ten posts and ten bases, with silver hooks and bands on the posts. ¹³ The east end, toward the sunrise, was also fifty cubits wide. ¹⁴ Curtains fifteen cubits^[l] long were on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases, ¹⁵ and curtains fifteen cubits long were on the other side of the entrance to the courtyard, with three posts and three bases. ¹⁶ All the curtains around the courtyard were of finely twisted linen. ¹⁷ The bases for the posts were bronze. The hooks and bands on the posts were silver, and their tops were overlaid with silver; so all the posts of the courtyard had silver bands.

¹⁸ The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was made of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer. It was twenty cubits^[m] long and, like the curtains of the courtyard, five cubits^[n] high, ¹⁹ with four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks and bands were silver, and their tops were overlaid with silver. ²⁰ All the tent pegs^(AD) of the tabernacle and of the surrounding courtyard were bronze.

The Materials Used

²¹ These are the amounts of the materials used for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the covenant law,^(AE) which were recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar^(AF) son of Aaron, the priest. ²² (Bezalel^(AG) son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything the Lord commanded Moses; ²³ with him was Oholiab^(AH) son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan—an engraver and designer, and an embroiderer in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen.) ²⁴ The total amount of the gold from the wave offering used for all the work on the sanctuary^(AI) was 29 talents and 730 shekels,^[o] according to the sanctuary shekel.^(AJ)

²⁵ The silver obtained from those of the community who were counted in the census^(AK) was 100 talents^[p] and 1,775 shekels,^[q] according to the sanctuary shekel— ²⁶ one beka per person,^(AL) that is, half a shekel,^[r] according to the sanctuary shekel,^(AM) from everyone who had crossed over to those counted, twenty years old or more,^(AN) a total of 603,550 men.^{(AO) 27} The 100 talents of silver were used to cast the bases^(AP) for the sanctuary and for the curtain—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent for each base. ²⁸ They used the 1,775 shekels to make the hooks for the posts, to overlay the tops of the posts, and to make their bands.

²⁹ The bronze from the wave offering was 70 talents and 2,400 shekels.^{[s] 30} They used it to make the bases for the entrance to the tent of meeting, the bronze altar with its bronze grating and all its utensils, ³¹ the bases for the surrounding courtyard and those for its entrance and all the tent pegs for the tabernacle and those for the surrounding courtyard.