1Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, 2“Tell the sons of Israel to set aside a contribution for me; you shall accept this contribution from every man who gives from the heart.
3The things you shall accept from them are these: gold, silver, and bronze, 4purple cloth of violet shade and red, crimson cloth, fine linen, goats’ hair; 5rams’ skins dyed red, fine leather, acacia wood; 6oil for the lamps, spices for the chrism and for the fragrant incense; precious stones and gems to be set in priestly vestments.
7* 8For they must build me a sanctuary so that I may dwell among them, 9and you shall make the tabernacle and its furnishings following exactly the pattern I shall show you.
10You are to make me an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, one and a half cubits high. 11You are to cover it with pure gold inside and out, and decorate it all around with a gold molding. 12You will cast four gold rings for the ark and fix them to its four supports: two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 13You will also make poles of acacia wood covered with gold 14and pass the poles through the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark by these. 15The poles must remain in the rings of the ark and not be withdrawn. 16Inside the ark you will place the Statement that I shall give you.
17Further, you are to make the mercy Seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide. 18For the two ends of the mercy Seat you are to make two golden cherubim of hammered gold. 19Make the first cherub for one end and the second for the other, and fasten them to the two ends of the cover so that they may make one piece with it. 20The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward so that they overshadow the mercy Seat. They must face one another, their faces towards the mercy Seat. 21You must place the mercy Seat on the top of the ark. Inside the ark you must place the stone tablets that I shall give you. 22There I shall come to meet you; there, from above the mercy Seat from between the two cherubim on it, I shall give you all my commands for the people of Israel.
The table and the lampstands
23You are to make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long, one cubit wide, and one and a half cubits high. 24You are to cover it with pure gold and decorate it all around with a gold edge. 25You are to surround it with a frame three inches wide, and decorate these with a golden edge. 26You are to make for it four gold rings and fix these at the four corners where the four legs are. 27The rings must be close to the frame to hold the poles for carrying the table. 28You are to make the poles of acacia wood and cover them with gold. The table is to be carried by these. 29You are to make dishes, cups, jars and bowls to be used for the wine offerings; you are to make these of pure gold. 30On the table, before me, you must place the bread of continual offering.
31You are to make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand must be of hammered gold, both its base and stem. Its decorative flowers, including buds and petals, must be of one piece with it. 32Six branches must extend from its sides, three from one side, three from the other. 33Each of the six branches of the lampstand is to have three decorative flowers shaped like almond blossoms, each with its bud and petals. 34The lampstand itself is to have four decorative flowers shaped like almond blossoms, each with its bud and petals, thus: 35one bud under the first two branches extending from the lampstand, one under the next pair, one under the last pair: corresponding to the six branches extending from the lampstand. 36The buds and the branches must be of one piece with the lampstand, and the whole made from a single piece of pure hammered gold. 37Then you are to make lamps for it, seven of them, and set them so that they throw their light toward the front of it. 38Tongs for extinguishing the burning lamps and trays must be of pure gold. 39You are to use seventy-five pounds of pure gold for making the lampstand and all its accessories. 40See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.
