Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 24

A Psalm of David.

Making the Ark of the Covenant^(A)

37 Now Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Its length was two and a half cubits, and its width a cubit and a half, and its height a cubit and a half.^{[a] 2} He overlaid it with pure gold, inside and out, and made a gold molding for it all around. ³ He cast four rings of gold for it on its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other side of it. 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 carry the ark.

⁶ He made the mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide. ⁷ He made two cherubim of gold. He made them of hammered metal on the two ends of the mercy seat: ⁸ one cherub on one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim on its two ends. ⁹ The cherubim spread out their wings upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward each other. The faces of the cherubim were looking toward the mercy seat.

Making the Table for the Showbread^(B)

¹⁰ He made the table of acacia wood, two cubits long and a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high.^{[b] 11} And he overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding for it all around. ¹² Also he made a rim for it of a handbreadth^[c] all around, and he made a gold molding for the rim all around. ¹³ He cast four rings of gold for it and put the rings on the four corners that were on its four feet. ¹⁴ Close by the rim were the rings, the holders 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 utensils which were on the table, its dishes and its pans and its bowls and its jars, to be used in pouring out offerings, of pure gold.

Exhortations

² Continue in prayer, and be watchful with thanksgiving, ³ while praying also for us, that God would open to us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, ⁴ that I may reveal it clearly, as I ought to speak. ⁵ Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, wisely using the opportunity. ⁶ Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you should answer everyone.

Final Greetings

⁷ Tychicus, who is a beloved brother and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. ⁸ I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that he might know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, ⁹ with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything which is happening here.

¹⁰ Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with 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 the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision. They have been a comfort to me. ¹² Epaphras greets you. He is one of you, a servant of Christ, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand mature and complete in the entire will of God. ¹³ I bear witness of him, that he has a great zeal for you, those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. ¹⁵ Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nympha, and the church which is in his house.

¹⁶ When this epistle is read among you, ensure that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you, likewise, read the epistle from Laodicea.

¹⁷ Tell Archippus, “Make sure that you fulfill the ministry which you have received in the Lord.”

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