Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

Atonement Money

¹¹ Then the Lord said to Moses, ¹² “When you take a census^(A) of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom^(B) for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague^(C) will come on them when you number them. ¹³ Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel,^[a] according to the sanctuary shekel,^(D) which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the Lord. ¹⁴ All who cross over, those twenty years old or more,^(E) are to give an offering to the Lord. ¹⁵ The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less^(F) when you make the offering to the Lord to atone for your lives. ¹⁶ Receive the atonement^(G) money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting.^(H) It will be a memorial^(I) for the Israelites before the Lord, making atonement for your lives.”

Basin for Washing

¹⁷ Then the Lord said to Moses, ¹⁸ “Make a bronze basin,^(J) with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. ¹⁹ Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet^(K) with water^(L) from it. ²⁰ Whenever they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die.^(M) Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the Lord, ²¹ they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance^(N) for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.”^(O)

Anointing Oil

²² Then the Lord said to Moses, ²³ “Take the following fine spices:^(P) 500 shekels^[b] of liquid myrrh,^(Q) half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon,^(R) 250 shekels^[c] of fragrant calamus,^{(S) 24} 500 shekels^(T) of cassia^(U)—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin^[d] of olive oil. ²⁵ Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer.^(V) It will be the sacred anointing oil.^{(W) 26} Then use it to anoint^(X) the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law, ²⁷ the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, ²⁸ the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. ²⁹ You shall consecrate them^(Y) so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.^(Z)

³⁰ “Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate^(AA) them so they may serve me as priests.^{(AB) 31} Say to the Israelites, ‘This is to be my sacred anointing oil^(AC) for the generations to come.^{(AD) 32} Do not pour it on anyone else’s body and do not make any other oil using the same formula. It is sacred, and you are to consider it sacred.^{(AE) 33} Whoever makes perfume like it and puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off^(AF) from their people.’”

Incense

³⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices^(AG)—gum resin, onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, ³⁵ and make a fragrant blend of incense,^(AH) the work of a perfumer.^(AI) It is to be salted and pure and sacred. ³⁶ Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, where I will meet^(AJ) with you. It shall be most holy^(AK) to you. ³⁷ Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy^(AL) to the Lord. ³⁸ Whoever makes incense like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off^(AM) from their people.”

Bezalel and Oholiab^(AN)

31 Then the Lord said to Moses, ² “See, I have chosen Bezalel^(AO) son of Uri, the son of Hur,^(AP) of the tribe of Judah, ³ and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge^(AQ) and with all kinds of skills^(AR)— ⁴ to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, ⁵ to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. ⁶ Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab^(AS) son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan,^(AT) to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers^(AU) to make everything I have commanded you: ⁷ the tent of meeting,^(AV) the ark of the covenant law^(AW) with the atonement cover^(AX) on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent— ⁸ the table^(AY) and its articles, the pure gold lampstand^(AZ) and all its accessories, the altar of incense,^{(BA) 9} the altar of burnt offering^(BB) and all its utensils, the basin^(BC) with its stand— ¹⁰ and also the woven garments^(BD), both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, ¹¹ and the anointing oil^(BE) and fragrant incense^(BF) for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded^(BG) you.”

The Sabbath

¹² Then the Lord said to Moses, ¹³ “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths.^(BH) This will be a sign^(BI) between me and you for the generations to come,^(BJ) so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.^(BK)

¹⁴ “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death;^(BL) those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. ¹⁵ For six days work^(BM) is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest,^(BN) holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. ¹⁶ The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath,^(BO) celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. ¹⁷ It will be a sign^(BP) between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.^(BQ)’”^(BR)

¹⁸ When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai,^(BS) he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone^(BT) inscribed by the finger of God.^(BU)

Jesus Arrested^(A)

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, Judas,^(B) one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!”^(C) and kissed him.

⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”^[a](D)

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword,^(E) drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.^(F)

⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.^{(G) 53} Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?^{(H) 54} But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled^(I) that say it must happen in this way?”

⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching,^(J) and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”^(K) Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin^(L)

⁵⁷ Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas^(M) the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. ⁵⁸ But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest.^(N) He entered and sat down with the guards^(O) to see the outcome.

⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin^(P) were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. ⁶⁰ But they did not find any, though many false witnesses^(Q) came forward.

Finally two^(R) came forward ⁶¹ and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”^(S)

⁶² Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” ⁶³ But Jesus remained silent.^(T)

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath^(U) by the living God:^(V) Tell us if you are the Messiah,^(W) the Son of God.”^(X)

⁶⁴ “You have said so,”^(Y) Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One^(Z) and coming on the clouds of heaven.”^[b](AA)

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes^(AB) and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,”^(AC) they answered.

⁶⁷ Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists.^(AD) Others slapped him ⁶⁸ and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”^(AE)