Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
A Welcome for God into the Temple
A song of David.
24 The earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.
The world and all its people belong to him.
2 He built it on the waters.
He set it on the rivers.
3 Who may go up on the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy Temple?
4 Only those with clean hands and pure hearts.
They must not have worshiped idols.
They must not have made promises in the name of a false god.
5 It is they who will receive a blessing from the Lord.
The God who saves them will declare them right.
6 They try to follow God.
They look to the God of Jacob for help. Selah
7 Open up, you gates.
Open wide, you aged doors.
Then the glorious king will come in.
8 Who is this glorious king?
The Lord, strong and mighty.
The Lord, the powerful warrior.
9 Open up, you gates.
Open wide, you aged doors.
Then the glorious king will come in.
10 Who is this glorious king?
The Lord of heaven’s armies—
he is the glorious king. Selah
The Ark of the Covenant
37 Bezalel made the Ark of the Covenant of acacia wood. The Ark of the Covenant was 45 inches long, 27 inches wide and 27 inches high. 2 He covered the inside and outside of the Ark of the Covenant with pure gold. Then he put a gold strip around it. 3 He made four gold rings for it and attached them to its four feet. There were two rings on each side. 4 Then he made poles of acacia wood and covered them with gold. 5 He put the poles through the rings on each side of the Ark of the Covenant to carry it. 6 Then he made a lid of pure gold. It was 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. 7 Then Bezalel hammered gold to make two creatures with wings. He attached them to each end of the lid. 8 He made one creature with wings on one end of the lid. He made the other creature with wings on the other end. He attached them to the lid so that it would be one piece. 9 The creatures’ wings were spread out over the lid. The creatures faced each other across the lid.
The Table
10 Then he made the table of acacia wood. The table was 36 inches long, 18 inches wide and 27 inches high. 11 He covered the table with pure gold. He put a gold strip around it. 12 Then he made a frame 3 inches high that stood up all around the edge. He put a gold strip around the frame. 13 Then he made four gold rings for the table. He attached them to the four corners of the table, where the four legs were. 14 The rings were put close to the frame around the top of the table. The rings held the poles that were used to carry the table. 15 The poles for carrying the table were made of acacia wood. They were covered with gold. 16 Then he made of pure gold all the things that were used on the table: the plates, bowls, cups and jars used for pouring the drink offerings.
What the Christians Are to Do
2 Continue praying and keep alert. And when you pray, always thank God. 3 Also pray for us. Pray that God will give us an opportunity to tell people his message. Pray that we can preach the secret truth that God has made known about Christ. I am in prison because I preach this truth. 4 Pray that I can speak in a way that will make it clear as I should.
5 Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers. Use your time in the best way you can. 6 When you talk, you should always be kind and wise. Then you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should.
News About the People with Paul
7 Tychicus is my dear brother in Christ. He is a faithful minister and servant with me in the Lord. He will tell you all the things that are happening to me. 8 That is why I am sending him. I want you to know how we are. I am sending him to encourage you. 9 I send him with Onesimus. Onesimus is a faithful and dear brother in Christ. He is one of your group. They will tell you all that has happened here.
10 Aristarchus greets you. He is a prisoner with me. And Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, also greets you. (I have already told you what to do about Mark. If he comes, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also greets you. These are the only Jewish believers who work with me for the kingdom of God. They have been a comfort to me.
12 Epaphras also greets you. He is a servant of Jesus Christ. And he is from your group. He always prays for you. He prays that you will grow to be spiritually mature and have everything that God wants for you. 13 I know that he has worked hard for you and the people in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Demas and our dear friend Luke, the doctor, greet you.
15 Greet the brothers in Laodicea. And greet Nympha and the church that meets in her house. 16 After this letter is read to you, be sure that it is also read to the church in Laodicea. And you read the letter that I wrote to Laodicea. 17 Tell Archippus, “Be sure to do the work the Lord gave you.”
18 I, Paul, greet you and write this with my own hand. Remember me in prison. God’s grace be with you.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.