Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A Psalm by David.

37 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Its length was two and a half cubits,^[a] and its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height. ² He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold for it around it. ³ He cast four rings of gold for it in its four feet—two rings on its one side, and two rings on its other side. ⁴ He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. ⁵ He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. ⁶ He made a mercy seat of pure gold. Its length was two and a half cubits, and a cubit and a half its width. ⁷ He made two cherubim of gold. He made them of beaten work, at the two ends of the mercy seat: ⁸ one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end. He made the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends. ⁹ The cherubim spread out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat.

¹⁰ He made the table of acacia wood. Its length was two cubits, and its width was a cubit, and its height was a cubit and a half. ¹¹ He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. ¹² He made a border of a hand’s width around it, and made a golden molding on its border around it. ¹³ He cast four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that were on its four feet. ¹⁴ The rings were close by the border, the places for the poles to carry the table. ¹⁵ He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table. ¹⁶ He made the vessels which were on the table, its dishes, its spoons, its bowls, and its pitchers with which to pour out, of pure gold.

² Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving, ³ praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds, ⁴ that I may reveal it as I ought to speak.

⁵ Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

⁷ All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord. ⁸ I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, ⁹ together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.

¹⁰ Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received instructions, “if he comes to you, receive him”), ¹¹ and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me.

¹² Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. ¹³ For I testify about him that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. ¹⁵ Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, with Nymphas and the assembly that is in his house. ¹⁶ When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans, and that you also read the letter from Laodicea. ¹⁷ Tell Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.”

¹⁸ I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.