Bible in a Year.

On the forty-third day, Exodus 25–26 details the construction of the tabernacle, a symbol of God's presence among His people. Leviticus 19 reinforces the call to holiness: "Be holy, for I am holy." Psalm 79 laments the destruction of Jerusalem, asking for forgiveness and restoration. These readings remind us that God dwells among those who seek purity and trust in His mercy.

Chapter 25

1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

2. Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring firstfruits to me: of every man that offereth of his own accord, you shall take them.

3. And these are the things you must take: gold, and silver, and brass,

4. Violet and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine linen, and goats' hair,

5. And rams' skins dyed red, and violet skins, and setim wood:

6. Oil to make lights: spices for ointment, and for sweetsmelling incense:

7. Onyx stones, and precious stones to adorn the ephod and the rational.

8. And they shall make me a sanctuary, and I will dwell in the midst of them:

9. According to all the likeness of the tabernacle which I will shew thee, and of all the vessels for the service thereof: and thus you shall make it:

10. Frame an ark of setim wood, the length whereof shall be of two cubits and a half: the breadth, a cubit and a half: the height, likewise, a cubit and a half.

11. And thou shalt overlay it with the purest gold within and without: and over it thou shalt make a golden crown round about:

12. And four golden rings, which thou shall put at the four corners of the ark: let two rings be on the one side, and two on the other.

13. Thou shalt make bars also of setim wood, and shalt overlay them with gold.

14. And thou shalt put them in through the rings that are in the sides of the ark, that it may be carried on them.

15. And they shall be always in the rings, neither shall they at any time be drawn out of them.

16. And thou shalt put in the ark the testimony which I will give thee.

17. Thou shalt make also a propitiatory of the purest gold: the length thereof shall be two cubits and a half, and the breadth a cubit and a half.

18. Thou shalt make also two cherubims of beaten gold, on the two sides of the oracle.

19. Let one cherub be on the one side, and the other on the other.

20. Let them cover both sides of the propitiatory, spreading their wings, and covering the oracle, and let them look one towards the other, their faces being turned towards the propitiatory wherewith the ark is to be covered.

21. In which thou shalt put the testimony that I will give thee.

22. Thence will I give orders, and will speak to thee over the propitiatory, and from the midst of the two cherubims, which shall be upon the ark of the testimony, all things which I will command the children of Israel by thee.

23. Thou shalt make a table also of setim wood, of two cubits in length, and a cubit in breadth, and a cubit and half in height.

24. And thou shalt overlay it with the purest gold: and thou shalt make to it a golden ledge round about.

25. And to the ledge itself a polished crown, four inches high: and over the same another little golden crown.

26. Thou shalt prepare also four golden rings, and shalt put them in the four corners of the same table over each foot.

27. Under the crown shall the golden rings be, that the bars may be put through them, and the table may be carried.

28. The bars also themselves thou shalt make of setim wood, and shalt overlay them with gold to bear up the table.

29. Thou shalt prepare also dishes, and bowls, censers, and cups, wherein the libations are to be offered of the purest gold.

30. And thou shalt set upon the table loaves of proposition in my sight always.

31. Thou shalt make also a candlestick of beaten work of the finest gold, the shaft thereof, and the branches, the cups, and the bowls, and the lilies going forth from it.

32. Six branches shall come out of the sides, three out of the one side, and three out of the other.

33. Three cups as it were nuts to every branch, and a bowl withal, and a lily; and three cups, likewise of the fashion of nuts in the other branch, and a bowl withal, and a lily. Such shall be the work of the six branches, that are to come out from the shaft:

34. And in the candlestick itself shall be four cups in the manner of a nut, and at every one, bowls and lilies.

35. Bowls under two branches in three places, which together make six coming forth out of one shaft.

36. And both the bowls and the branches shall be of the same beaten work of the purest gold.

37. Thou shalt make also seven lamps, and shalt set them upon the candlestick, to give light over against.

38. The snuffers also and where the snuffings shall be put out, shall be made of the purest gold.

39. The whole weight of the candlestick with all the furniture thereof shall be a talent of the purest gold.

40. Look and make it according to the pattern, that was shewn thee in the mount.

Chapter 26

1. And thou shalt make the tabernacle in this manner: Thou shalt make ten curtains of fine twisted linen, and violet and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, diversified with embroidery.

2. The length of one curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, the breadth shall be four cubits. All the curtains shall be of one measure.

3. Five curtains shall be joined one to another, and the other five shall be coupled together in like manner.

4. Thou shalt make loops of violet in the sides and tops of the curtains, that they may be joined one to another.

5. Every curtain shall have fifty loops on both sides, so set on, that one loop may be against another loop, and one may be fitted to the other.

6. Thou shalt make also fifty rings of gold wherewith the veils of the curtains are to be joined, that it may be made one tabernacle.

7. Thou shalt make also eleven curtains of goats' hair, to cover the top of the tabernacle.

8. The length of one hair curtain shall be thirty cubits: and the breadth four: the measure of all the curtains shall be equal.

9. Five of which thou shalt couple by themselves, and the six others thou shalt couple one to another, so as to double the sixth curtain in the front of the roof.

10. Thou shalt make also fifty loops in the edge of one curtain, that it may be joined with the other: and fifty loops in the edge of the other curtain, that it may be coupled with its fellow.

11. Thou shalt make also fifty buckles of brass, wherewith the loops may be joined, that of all there may be made one covering.

12. And that which shall remain of the curtains, that are prepared for the roof, to wit, one curtain that is over and above, with the half thereof thou shalt cover the back parts of the tabernacle.

13. And there shall hang down a cubit on the one side, and another on the other side, which is over and above in the length of the curtains, fencing both sides of the tabernacle.

14. Thou shalt make also another cover to the roof, of rams' skins dyed red; and over that again another cover of violet coloured skins.

15. Thou shalt make also the boards of the tabernacle standing upright of setim wood.

16. Let every one of them be ten cubits in length, and in breadth on cubit and a half.

17. In the sides of the boards shall be made two mortises, whereby one board may be joined to another board: and after this manner shall all the boards be prepared.

18. Of which twenty shall be in the south side southward.

19. For which thou shalt cast forty sockets of silver, that under every board may be put two sockets at the two corners.

20. In the second side also the tabernacle that looketh to the north, there shall be twenty boards,

21. Having forty sockets of silver, two sockets shall be put under each board.

22. But on the west side of the tabernacle thou shalt make six boards.

23. And again other two which shall be erected in the corners at the back of the tabernacle.

24. And they shall be joined together from beneath unto the top, and one joint shall hold them all. The like joining shall be observed for the two boards also that are to be put in the corners.

25. And they shall be in all eight boards, and their silver sockets sixteen, reckoning two sockets for each board.

26. Thou shalt make also five bars of setim wood, to hold together the boards on one side of the tabernacle.

27. And five others on the other side, and as many at the west side:

28. And they shall be put along by the midst of the boards from one end to the other.

29. The boards also themselves thou shalt overlay with gold, and shall cast rings of gold to be set upon them, for places for the bars to hold together boardwork: which bars thou shalt cover with plates of gold.

30. And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the pattern that was shewn thee in the mount.

31. Thou shalt make also a veil of violet and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twisted linen, wrought with embroidered work, and goodly variety:

32. And thou shalt hang it up before four pillars of setim wood, which themselves also shall be overlaid with gold, and shall have heads of gold, but sockets of silver.

33. And the veils shall be hanged on with rings, and within it thou shalt put the ark of the testimony, and the sanctuary, and the holy of holies shall be divided with it.

34. And thou shalt set the propitiatory upon the ark of the testimony in the holy of holies.

35. And the table without the veil: and over against the table the candlestick in the south side of the tabernacle; for the table shall stand in the north side.

36. Thou shalt make also a hanging in the entrance of the tabernacle of violet and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twisted linen with embroidered work.

37. And thou shalt overlay with gold five pillars of setim wood, before which the hanging shall be drawn: their heads shall be of gold, and the sockets of brass.

1. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

2. Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: Be ye holy, because I the Lord your God am holy.

3. Let every one fear his father, and his mother. Keep my sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.

4. Turn ye not to idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods. I am the Lord your God.

5. If ye offer in sacrifice a peace offering to the Lord, that he may be favourable,

6. You shall eat it on the same day it was offered, and the next day: and whatsoever shall be left until the third day, you shall burn with fire.

7. If after two days ally man eat thereof, he shall be profane and guilty of impiety:

8. And shall bear his iniquity, because he hath defiled the holy thing of the Lord, and that soul shall perish from among his people.

9. When thou reapest the corn of thy land, thou shalt not cut down all that is on the face of the earth to the very ground: nor shalt thou gather the ears that remain.

10. Neither shalt thou gather the bunches and grapes that fall down in thy vineyard, but shalt leave them to the poor and the strangers to take. I am the Lord your God.

11. You shall not steal. You shall not lie, neither shall any man deceive his neighbour.

12. Thou shalt not swear falsely by my name, nor profane the name of thy God. I am the Lord.

13. Thou shalt not calumniate thy neighbour, nor oppress him by violence. The wages of him that hath been hired by thee shall not abide with thee until the morning.

14. Thou shalt not speak evil of the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind: but thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, because I am the Lord.

15. Thou shalt not do that which is unjust, nor judge unjustly. Respect not the person of the poor, nor honour the countenance of the mighty. But judge thy neighbour according to justice.

16. Thou shalt not be a detractor nor a whisperer among the people. Thou shalt not stand against the blood of thy neighbour. I am the Lord.

17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart, but reprove him openly, lest thou incur sin through him.

18. Seek not revenge, nor be mindful of the injury of thy citizens. Thou shalt love thy friend as thyself. I am the Lord.

19. Keep ye my laws. Thou shalt not make thy cattle to gender with beasts of any other kind. Thou shalt not sow thy field with different seeds. Thou shalt not wear a garment that is woven of two sorts.

20. If a man carnally lie with a woman that is a bondservant and marriageable, and yet not redeemed with a price, nor made free: they both shall be scourged, and they shall not be put to death, because she was not a free woman.

21. And for his trespass he shall offer a ram to the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony:

22. And the priest shall pray for him and for his sin before the Lord, and he shall have mercy on him, and the sin shall be forgiven.

23. When you shall be come into the land, and shall have planted in it fruit trees, you shall take away the firstfruits of them: the fruit that comes forth shall be unclean to you, neither shall you eat of them.

24. But in the fourth year, all their fruit shall be sanctified, to the praise of the Lord.

25. And in the fifth year you shall eat the fruits thereof, gathering the increase thereof. I am the Lord your God.

26. You shall not eat with blood. You shall not divine nor observe dreams.

27. Nor shall you cut your hair roundwise: nor shave your beard.

28. You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh, for the dead, neither shall you make in yourselves any figures or marks: I am the Lord.

29. Make not thy daughter a common strumpet, lest the land be defiled, and filled with wickedness.

30. Keep ye my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary. I am the Lord.

31. 31Go not aside after wizards, neither ask any thing of soothsayers, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.

32. Rise up before the hoary head, and honour the person of the aged man: and fear the Lord thy God. I am the Lord.

33. If a stranger dwell in your land, and abide among you, do not upbraid him :

34. But let him be among you as one of the same country: and you shall love him as yourselves: for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

35. Do not any unjust thing in judgment, in rule, in weight, or in measure.

36. Let the balance be just and the weights equal, the bushel just, and the sextary equal. I am the Lord your God, that brought you out of the land of Egypt.

37. Keep all my precepts, and all my judgments, and do them. I am the Lord.

1. A psalm for Asaph. O God, the heathens are come into thy inheritance, they have defiled thy holy temple: they have made Jerusalem as a place to keep fruit.

2. They have given the dead bodies of thy servants to be meat for the fowls of the air: the flesh of thy saints for the beasts of the earth.

3. They have poured out their blood as water, round about Jerusalem and there was none to bury them.

4. We are become a reproach to our neighbours: a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

5. How long, O Lord, wilt thou be angry for ever: shall thy zeal be kindled like a fire?

6. Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that have not known thee: and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

7. Because they have devoured Jacob; and have laid waste his place.

8. Remember not our former iniquities: let thy mercies speedily prevent us, for we are become exceeding poor.

9. Help us, O God, our saviour: and for the glory of thy name, O Lord, deliver us: and forgive us our sins for thy name's sake:

10. Lest they should say among the Gentiles: Where is their God? And let him be made known among the nations before our eyes, By the revenging the blood of thy servants, which hath been shed:

11. let the sighing of the prisoners come in before thee. According to the greatness of thy arm, take possession of the children of them that have been put to death.

12. And render to our neighbours sevenfold in their bosom: the reproach wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

13. But we thy people, and the sheep of thy pasture, will give thanks to thee for ever. We will shew forth thy praise, unto generation and generation.