³⁶ “Make a plate^(A) of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: holy to the Lord.^{(B) 37} Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. ³⁸ It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt^(C) involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron’s forehead continually so that they will be acceptable^(D) to the Lord.

³⁹ “Weave the tunic^(E) of fine linen and make the turban^(F) of fine linen. The sash is to be the work of an embroiderer. ⁴⁰ Make tunics, sashes and caps for Aaron’s sons^(G) to give them dignity and honor.^{(H) 41} After you put these clothes^(I) on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint^(J) and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.^(K)

²³ Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; ²⁴ but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.^{(A) 25} Therefore he is able to save^(B) completely^[a] those who come to God^(C) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.^(D)

²⁶ Such a high priest^(E) truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,^(F) exalted above the heavens.^{(G) 27} Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices^(H) day after day, first for his own sins,^(I) and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all^(J) when he offered himself.^{(K) 28} For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness;^(L) but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son,^(M) who has been made perfect^(N) forever.

Psalm 21^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

David Hears of Saul’s Death^(A)

1 After the death^(B) of Saul, David returned from striking down^(C) the Amalekites^(D) and stayed in Ziklag two days. ² On the third day a man^(E) arrived from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head.^(F) When he came to David, he fell^(G) to the ground to pay him honor.^(H)

³ “Where have you come from?” David asked him.

He answered, “I have escaped from the Israelite camp.”

⁴ “What happened?” David asked. “Tell me.”

“The men fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”

⁵ Then David said to the young man who brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

⁶ “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,^(I)” the young man said, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and their drivers in hot pursuit. ⁷ When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I said, ‘What can I do?’

⁸ “He asked me, ‘Who are you?’

“‘An Amalekite,^(J)’ I answered.

⁹ “Then he said to me, ‘Stand here by me and kill me!^(K) I’m in the throes of death, but I’m still alive.’

¹⁰ “So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown^(L) that was on his head and the band on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.”

²⁶ Meanwhile Joab fought against Rabbah^(A) of the Ammonites and captured the royal citadel. ²⁷ Joab then sent messengers to David, saying, “I have fought against Rabbah and taken its water supply. ²⁸ Now muster the rest of the troops and besiege the city and capture it. Otherwise I will take the city, and it will be named after me.”

²⁹ So David mustered the entire army and went to Rabbah, and attacked and captured it. ³⁰ David took the crown^(B) from their king’s^[a] head, and it was placed on his own head. It weighed a talent^[b] of gold, and it was set with precious stones. David took a great quantity of plunder from the city ³¹ and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws and with iron picks and axes, and he made them work at brickmaking.^[c] David did this to all the Ammonite^(C) towns. Then he and his entire army returned to Jerusalem.

A Crown for Joshua

⁹ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁰ “Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon.^(A) Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. ¹¹ Take the silver and gold and make a crown,^(B) and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua^(C) son of Jozadak.^{[a](D) 12} Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch,^(E) and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord.^{(F) 13} It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he^[b] will be a priest^(G) on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’ ¹⁴ The crown will be given to Heldai,^[c] Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen^[d] son of Zephaniah as a memorial^(H) in the temple of the Lord. ¹⁵ Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord,^(I) and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.^(J) This will happen if you diligently obey^(K) the Lord your God.”

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown^(A) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.^(B)

Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for,^(A) my joy and crown, stand firm^(B) in the Lord in this way, dear friends!