The Tabernacle^(A)

26 “Make the tabernacle^(B) with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim^(C) woven into them by a skilled worker. ² All the curtains are to be the same size^(D)—twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide.^{[a] 3} Join five of the curtains together, and do the same with the other five. ⁴ Make loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and do the same with the end curtain in the other set. ⁵ Make fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the other set, with the loops opposite each other. ⁶ Then make fifty gold clasps and use them to fasten the curtains together so that the tabernacle is a unit.^(E)

⁷ “Make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven altogether. ⁸ All eleven curtains are to be the same size^(F)—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.^{[b] 9} Join five of the curtains together into one set and the other six into another set. Fold the sixth curtain double at the front of the tent. ¹⁰ Make fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and also along the edge of the end curtain in the other set. ¹¹ Then make fifty bronze clasps and put them in the loops to fasten the tent together as a unit.^{(G) 12} As for the additional length of the tent curtains, the half curtain that is left over is to hang down at the rear of the tabernacle. ¹³ The tent curtains will be a cubit^[c] longer on both sides; what is left will hang over the sides of the tabernacle so as to cover it. ¹⁴ Make for the tent a covering^(H) of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of the other durable leather.^[d](I)

¹⁵ “Make upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle. ¹⁶ Each frame is to be ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide,^{[e] 17} with two projections set parallel to each other. Make all the frames of the tabernacle in this way. ¹⁸ Make twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle ¹⁹ and make forty silver bases^(J) to go under them—two bases for each frame, one under each projection. ²⁰ For the other side, the north side of the tabernacle, make twenty frames ²¹ and forty silver bases^(K)—two under each frame. ²² Make six frames for the far end, that is, the west end of the tabernacle, ²³ and make two frames for the corners at the far end. ²⁴ At these two corners they must be double from the bottom all the way to the top and fitted into a single ring; both shall be like that. ²⁵ So there will be eight frames and sixteen silver bases—two under each frame.

²⁶ “Also make crossbars of acacia wood: five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle, ²⁷ five for those on the other side, and five for the frames on the west, at the far end of the tabernacle. ²⁸ The center crossbar is to extend from end to end at the middle of the frames. ²⁹ Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold.

³⁰ “Set up the tabernacle^(L) according to the plan^(M) shown you on the mountain.

³¹ “Make a curtain^(N) of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim^(O) woven into it by a skilled worker. ³² Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases.^{(P) 33} Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain.^(Q) The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.^{(R) 34} Put the atonement cover^(S) on the ark of the covenant law in the Most Holy Place. ³⁵ Place the table^(T) outside the curtain on the north side of the tabernacle and put the lampstand^(U) opposite it on the south side.

³⁶ “For the entrance to the tent make a curtain^(V) of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer.^{(W) 37} Make gold hooks for this curtain and five posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold. And cast five bronze bases for them.

The Altar of Burnt Offering^(X)

27 “Build an altar^(Y) of acacia wood, three cubits^[f] high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.^{[g] 2} Make a horn^(Z) at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze. ³ Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls,^(AA) meat forks and firepans.^{(AB) 4} Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network. ⁵ Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar. ⁶ Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze.^{(AC) 7} The poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried.^{(AD) 8} Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown^(AE) on the mountain.

The Courtyard^(AF)

⁹ “Make a courtyard^(AG) for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits^[h] long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen, ¹⁰ with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. ¹¹ The north side shall also be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

¹² “The west end of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits^[i] wide and have curtains, with ten posts and ten bases. ¹³ On the east end, toward the sunrise, the courtyard shall also be fifty cubits wide. ¹⁴ Curtains fifteen cubits^[j] long are to be on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases, ¹⁵ and curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases.

¹⁶ “For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain^(AH) twenty cubits^[k] long, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer^(AI)—with four posts and four bases. ¹⁷ All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands and hooks, and bronze bases. ¹⁸ The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide,^[l] with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits^[m] high, and with bronze bases. ¹⁹ All the other articles used in the service of the tabernacle, whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it and those for the courtyard, are to be of bronze.

Oil for the Lampstand^(AJ)

²⁰ “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil^(AK) of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. ²¹ In the tent of meeting,^(AL) outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law,^(AM) Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps^(AN) burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance^(AO) among the Israelites for the generations to come.

Psalm 39^[a]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

God’s Faithfulness

3 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? ² Much in every way!^(A) First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.^(B)

³ What if some were unfaithful?^(C) Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?^{(D) 4} Not at all! Let God be true,^(E) and every human being a liar.^(F) As it is written:

⁵ But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly,^(H) what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)^{(I) 6} Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?^{(J) 7} Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory,^(K) why am I still condemned as a sinner?”^{(L) 8} Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”?^(M) Their condemnation is just!

No One Is Righteous

⁹ What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage?^(N) Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.^{(O) 10} As it is written:

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says,^(V) it says to those who are under the law,^(W) so that every mouth may be silenced^(X) and the whole world held accountable to God.^{(Y) 20} Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;^(Z) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.^(AA)

Righteousness Through Faith

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God^(AB) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.^{(AC) 22} This righteousness^(AD) is given through faith^(AE) in^[h] Jesus Christ^(AF) to all who believe.^(AG) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,^{(AH) 23} for all have sinned^(AI) and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified^(AJ) freely by his grace^(AK) through the redemption^(AL) that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[i](AM) through the shedding of his blood^(AN)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished^(AO)— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

²⁷ Where, then, is boasting?^(AP) It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. ²⁸ For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.^{(AQ) 29} Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,^{(AR) 30} since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.^{(AS) 31} Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Abraham Justified by Faith

4 What then shall we say^(AT) that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh,^(AU) discovered in this matter? ² If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.^{(AV) 3} What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”^[j](AW)

⁴ Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift^(AX) but as an obligation. ⁵ However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.^{(AY) 6} David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

⁹ Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised?^(BA) We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.^{(BB) 10} Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! ¹¹ And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.^(BC) So then, he is the father^(BD) of all who believe^(BE) but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. ¹² And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

¹³ It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise^(BF) that he would be heir of the world,^(BG) but through the righteousness that comes by faith.^{(BH) 14} For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,^{(BI) 15} because the law brings wrath.^(BJ) And where there is no law there is no transgression.^(BK)

¹⁶ Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace^(BL) and may be guaranteed^(BM) to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.^{(BN) 17} As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”^[l](BO) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life^(BP) to the dead and calls^(BQ) into being things that were not.^(BR)

¹⁸ Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,^(BS) just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”^{[m](BT) 19} Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead^(BU)—since he was about a hundred years old^(BV)—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.^{(BW) 20} Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened^(BX) in his faith and gave glory to God,^{(BY) 21} being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.^{(BZ) 22} This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”^{(CA) 23} The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, ²⁴ but also for us,^(CB) to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him^(CC) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.^{(CD) 25} He was delivered over to death for our sins^(CE) and was raised to life for our justification.^(CF)