1The Lord spoke to Moses:

2“Tell the Israelites to take an offering for me. You are to take my offering from everyone who is willing to give.25:2 Ex 35:5,21; 1Ch 29:5; Ezr 2:68; Neh 11:2; 2Co 8:12; 9:7

3This is the offering you are to receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze;

4blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair;

5ram skins dyed red25:5 Ex 26:14; 35:7,23; 36:19; 39:34 and fine leather;25:5 Hb obscure acacia wood;

6oil25:6 Ex 27:20; 30:23–24 for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;

7and onyx25:7 Or carnelian along with other gemstones for mounting on the ephod and breastpiece.25:7 Traditionally, breastplate25:7 Ex 28:4,6–15

10“They are to make an ark25:10 Ex 37:1,3–4; Dt 10:3; Heb 9:4 of acacia wood, forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high.25:10 Lit two and a half cubits its length, one and a half cubits its width, and one and a half cubits its height

11Overlay it with pure gold; overlay it both inside and out. Also make a gold molding all around it.

12Cast four gold rings for it and place them on its four feet, two rings on one side and two rings on the other side.

13Make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

14Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark with them.

15The poles are to remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be removed from it.

16Put the tablets of25:16 the tablets of supplied for clarity, also in v. 21 the testimony that I will give you into the ark.25:16 Ex 16:34; Dt 31:26; 1Kg 8:9

17Make a mercy seat25:17 Ex 37:6; Rm 3:25; Heb 9:5 of pure gold, forty-five inches long and twenty-seven inches wide.25:17 Lit two and a half cubits its length, one and a half cubits its width

18Make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.

19Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end. At its two ends, make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat.

20The cherubim are to have wings spread out above, covering25:20 1Kg 8:7; 1Ch 28:18; Heb 9:5 the mercy seat with their wings, and are to face one another. The faces of the cherubim should be toward the mercy seat.

21Set the mercy seat on top of the ark and put the tablets of the testimony that I will give you into the ark.25:21 Ex 25:16; 26:34

22I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim25:22 Nm 7:89; 1Sm 4:4; 2Sm 6:2; 2Kg 19:15; Ps 80:1; Is 37:16 that are over the ark of the testimony; I will speak with you from there about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.

23“You are to construct a table25:23 Ex 37:10; 1Kg 7:48; 2Ch 4:8; Heb 9:2 of acacia wood, thirty-six inches long, eighteen inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high.25:23 Lit two cubits its length, one cubit its width, and one and a half cubits its height

24Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding all around it.

25Make a three-inch25:25 Lit Make it a handbreadth frame all around it and make a gold molding for it all around its frame.

26Make four gold rings for it, and attach the rings to the four corners at its four legs.

27The rings should be next to the frame as holders for the poles to carry the table.

28Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, and the table can be carried by them.

29You are also to make its plates25:29 Ex 37:16; Nm 4:7 and cups, as well as its pitchers and bowls for pouring drink offerings. Make them out of pure gold.

30Put the Bread of the Presence25:30 Ex 35:13; 39:36; 40:23; Lv 24:5–9; Nm 4:7 on the table before me at all times.

31“You25:31–39 Ex 37:17–24 are to make a lampstand25:31 1Kg 7:49; Zch 4:2; Heb 9:2; Rv 1:12 out of pure, hammered gold. It is to be made of one piece: its base and shaft, its ornamental cups, and its buds25:31 = the outer covering of a flower and petals.

32Six branches are to extend from its sides, three branches of the lampstand from one side and three branches of the lampstand from the other side.

33There are to be three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a bud and petals, on one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a bud and petals, on the next branch. It is to be this way for the six branches that extend from the lampstand.

34There are to be four cups shaped like almond blossoms on the lampstand shaft along with its buds and petals.

35For the six branches that extend from the lampstand, a bud must be under the first pair of branches from it, a bud under the second pair of branches from it, and a bud under the third pair of branches from it.

36Their buds and branches are to be of one piece.25:36 Lit piece with it All of it is to be a single hammered piece of pure gold.