Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

A Call to Worship the Lord the Righteous Judge.

^23 (A)And in the inner sanctuary he made two ^[a]cherubim of olive wood, each ^[b]ten cubits high. ²⁴ The one wing of the first cherub was five cubits, and the other wing of the first cherub was five cubits; from the end of one wing to the end of the other wing were ten cubits. ²⁵ The second cherub was ten cubits; both of the cherubim were of the same measurement and the same form. ²⁶ The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was that of the other cherub. ²⁷ He placed the cherubim in the midst of the inner house, and ^(B)the wings of the cherubim spread out so that the wing of the one was touching the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub was touching the other wall. And their wings were touching ^[c]end to ^[d]end in the center of the house. ²⁸ He also overlaid the cherubim with gold.

²⁹ Then he carved all the surrounding walls of the house with engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, for the inner and outer sanctuaries. ³⁰ And he overlaid the floor of the house with gold, for the inner and outer sanctuaries.

³¹ And for the entrance of the inner sanctuary he made doors of olive wood, the lintel, and five-sided doorposts. ³² So he made two doors of olive wood, and he carved on them carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he overlaid the cherubim and the palm trees with gold.

³³ So too he made for the entrance of the main room four-sided doorposts of olive wood, ³⁴ and ^(C)two doors of juniper wood; the two leaves of the one door turned on pivots, and the two ^[e]leaves of the other door turned on pivots. ³⁵ He carved on it cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold plated on the carved work. ³⁶ And ^(D)he built the inner courtyard with three rows of cut stone and a row of cedar beams.

^37 (E)In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid, in the month of Ziv. ³⁸ And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, that is, the eighth month, the house was finished in all its parts and in accordance with all its plans. So he was seven years in building it.

¹¹ Therefore, knowing the ^(A)fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but we are well known to God; and I hope that we are also ^(B)well known in your consciences. ¹² We are not commending ourselves to you ^(C)again, but are giving you an ^(D)opportunity to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. ¹³ For if we have ^(E)lost our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ ^(F)controls us, having concluded this, that ^(G)one died for all, therefore all died; ¹⁵ and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer ^(H)live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.

¹⁶ Therefore from now on we recognize no one ^[a](I)by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore if anyone is ^(J)in Christ, this person is ^(K)a new ^[b]creation; ^(L)the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.