Psalm 20

Prayer for Victory

To the leader. A Psalm of David.

The Tabernacle Erected and Its Equipment Installed

40 The Lord spoke to Moses, ² “On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.^{(A) 3} You shall put in it the ark of the covenant, and you shall screen the ark with the curtain.^{(B) 4} You shall bring in the table and arrange its setting, and you shall bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. ⁵ You shall put the golden altar for incense before the ark of the covenant and set up the screen for the entrance of the tabernacle. ⁶ You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting ⁷ and place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it. ⁸ You shall set up the court all around and hang up the screen for the gate of the court. ⁹ Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it shall become holy.^{(C) 10} You shall also anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils and consecrate the altar, so that the altar shall be most holy.^{(D) 11} You shall also anoint the basin with its stand and consecrate it. ¹² Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water^{(E) 13} and put on Aaron the sacred vestments, and you shall anoint him and consecrate him, so that he may serve me as priest.^{(F) 14} You shall bring his sons also and put tunics on them ¹⁵ and anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may serve me as priests; their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout all their generations.”^(G)

A Call to Persevere

¹⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,^{(A) 20} by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh),^{(B) 21} and since we have a great priest over the house of God,^{(C) 22} let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.^{(D) 23} Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.^{(E) 24} And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.^(F)