Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
A song of David.
24 The earth and everything on it belong to the Lord.
The world and all its people belong to him.
2 He built the earth on the water.
He built it over the rivers.
3 Who can go up on the Lord’s mountain[a]?
Who can stand in his holy Temple?
4 Only those who have not done evil,
who have pure hearts,
who have not used my name[b] to hide their lies,
and who have not made false promises.
5 Good people ask the Lord to bless others.
They ask God, their Savior, to do good things.
6 They try to follow God.
They go to the God of Jacob for help. Selah
7 Gates, proudly lift your heads!
Open, ancient doors,
and the glorious King will come in.
8 Who is the glorious King?
He is the Lord, the powerful soldier.
He is the Lord, the war hero.
9 Gates, proudly lift your heads!
Open, ancient doors,
and the glorious King will come in.
10 Who is the glorious King?
The Lord All-Powerful is the glorious King. Selah
The Box of the Agreement
37 Bezalel made the Holy Box from acacia wood. The Box was 2 1/2 cubits[a] long, 1 1/2 cubits[b] wide, and 1 1/2 cubits high. 2 He covered the inside and outside of the Box with pure gold. Then he put gold trim around the Box. 3 He made four rings of gold and put them on the four corners. These rings were used for carrying the Box. There were two rings on each side. 4 Then he made the poles for carrying the Box. He used acacia wood and covered the poles with pure gold. 5 He put the poles through the rings on each side of the Box. 6 Then he made the mercy-cover from pure gold. It was 2 1/2 cubits long and 1 1/2 cubits wide. 7 Then Bezalel hammered gold to make two Cherub angels. He put the Cherub angels on each end of the mercy-cover. 8 He put one angel on one end and the other angel on the other end. The angels were joined together with the mercy-cover to make one piece. 9 The wings of the angels were spread up toward the sky. The angels covered the Box with their wings and faced each other, looking toward the mercy-cover.
The Special Table
10 Then he made the table from acacia wood. The table was 2 cubits[c] long, 1 cubit[d] wide, and 1 1/2 cubits high. 11 He covered it with pure gold and put gold trim around it. 12 Then he made a frame 1 handbreadth[e] wide around the table. He put gold trim on the frame. 13 Then he made four gold rings and put them at the four corners of the table, where the four legs were. 14 He put the rings close to the frame. The rings were to hold the poles used to carry the table. 15 Then he used acacia wood to make the poles for carrying the table. He covered the poles with pure gold. 16 Then he made everything that was used on the table. He made the plates, the spoons, the bowls, and the pitchers from pure gold. The bowls and pitchers are used for pouring the drink offerings.
Some Things to Do
2 Never stop praying. Be ready for anything by praying and being thankful. 3 Also pray for us. Pray that God will give us an opportunity to tell people his message. I am in prison for doing this. But pray that we can continue to tell people the secret truth that God has made known about Christ. 4 Pray that I will say what is necessary to make this truth clear to everyone.
5 Be wise in the way you act with those 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 Those With Paul
7 Tychicus is my dear brother in Christ. He is a faithful helper and he serves the Lord with me. He will tell you everything that is happening with me. 8 That is why I am sending him. I want you to know how we are, and I am sending him to encourage you. 9 I am sending him with Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother from your group. They will tell you everything that has happened here.
10 Aristarchus, the one here in prison with me, sends you his greetings. Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, also sends his greetings. (I have already told you what to do about Mark. If he comes, welcome him.) 11 And greetings from Jesus, the one who is also called Justus. These are the only Jewish believers who work with me for God’s kingdom. They have been a great comfort to me.
12 Epaphras, another servant of Jesus Christ from your group, sends his greetings. He constantly struggles for you in prayer. 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 Greetings also from Demas and our dear friend Luke, the doctor.
15 Give our greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea. Greetings also to Nympha and to the church that meets in her house. 16 After this letter is read to you, be sure it is also read to the church in Laodicea. And you read the letter that I wrote to them. 17 Tell Archippus, “Be sure to do the work the Lord gave you.”
18 Here’s my greeting in my own handwriting— Paul. Remember me in prison. God’s grace be with you.
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International