Friday, November 21

1Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

2'On the first day of the first month, the new moon, you shall set up the tabernacle of testimony.

3You shall put in it the ark of the testimony and cover the ark with the veil.

4You shall bring in the table and lay out its offering, and bring in the lampstand and install its lamps.

5You shall also set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark, and put up the veil for the door of the tabernacle of testimony.

6Then you shall set the altar of the burnt offerings before the door of the tabernacle of testimony.

7You shall put a cover over the tabernacle and consecrate everything pertaining to it.

8You shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; and you shall consecrate it and all its utensils, and it shall be holy.

9You shall anoint the altar of burnt offerings and all its utensils and consecrate the altar. The altar shall be most holy.

10'Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doors of the tabernacle of testimony and wash them with water.

11You shall put the holy garments on Aaron and anoint and consecrate him that he may minister to Me as priest.

12You shall also bring his sons and put garments on them.

13You shall anoint them as you anointed their father, so they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.'

14Thus Moses did; according to all the Lord commanded him, so he did.

15Then it came to pass in the first month of the second year after their departure from Egypt, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was set up.

16So Moses set up the tabernacle, placed the capitals, inserted the bars, and set up the posts.

17He spread out the curtains over the tabernacle and put the veil of the tabernacle on it above, as the Lord commanded Moses.

18Then he took the testimonies, put them into the ark, and inserted the poles under the ark.

19He then brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung up the veil of the covering, and partitioned off the ark of the testimony, as the Lord commanded Moses.

20He put the table in the tabernacle of testimony, on the north side of the tabernacle of testimony, outside the veil of the tabernacle.

21He also set the bread of the offertory upon it before the Lord, in the manner the Lord commanded Moses.

22Then he put the lampstand in the tabernacle of testimony, on the south side of the tabernacle;

23and he placed its lamps before the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.

24He also put the gold altar in the tabernacle of testimony in front of the veil;

25and he burned the incense compound on it, as the Lord commanded Moses.

26Then he put the altar of burnt offering before the doors of the tabernacle.

27He also set up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar. So Moses finished all the work.

28Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of testimony, and the tabernacle was filled with the Lord's glory.

29But Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of testimony because the cloud overshadowed it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

50And Solomon completed his whole house.

1Twenty years later, when Solomon finished building the house of the Lord and his own house, King Solomon assembled all the elders of Israel in Zion, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of David, which is Zion,

2in the month of Ethanim.

3The priests took up the ark

4and the tabernacle of testimony and all the holy furnishings in the tabernacle of meeting.

5King Solomon and all Israel were before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen without number.

6Then the priests brought in the ark to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the holy of holies, under the wings of the cherubim.

7For the cherubim spread their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim overshadowed the ark and the holy things.

8The holy staves extended so the ends of the poles could be seen from the holy place, in front of the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside.

9Nothing was in the ark except the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, after they came out of the land of Egypt.

10When the priests came out of the holy place, the cloud filled the house,

11so the priests could not stand there ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house.

27It will be when these days are over, on the eighth day, the priests shall offer your whole burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the altar, and I shall accept you,' says the Lord.'

1Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary that faces toward the east, but it was shut.

2So the Lord said to me, 'This gate shall be shut. It shall not be opened, and no man shall pass through it, because the Lord God of Israel will enter by it; therefore, it shall be shut.

3As for the prince, he will sit in it to eat bread before the Lord. He will go in by way of the gate chamber and go out the same way.'

4Then He brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple, and I looked, and behold, the house of the Lord was full of glory; and I fell on my face.

39Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,

40and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

41And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.'

46'My soul magnifies the Lord,

47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

48For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

49For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.

50And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.

51He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.

53He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.

54He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,

55As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.'

56And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

1Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary.

2For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary;

3and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All,

4which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;

5and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.

7But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance;

9For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

10who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

11Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

12And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

13and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

15See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

16Rejoice always,

17pray without ceasing,

18in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

19Do not quench the Spirit.

20Do not despise prophecies.

21Test all things; hold fast what is good.

22Abstain from every form of evil.

23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

25Brethren, pray for us.

26Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

27I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.

28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

38Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.

39And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.

40But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.'

41And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.

42But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'

1Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.'

2So He said to them, 'When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

3Give us day by day our daily bread.

4And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.'

5And He said to them, 'Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves;

6for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him';

7and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'?

8I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

9'So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

10For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

11If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?

12Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

13If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!'

14And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.

15But some of them said, 'He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.'

16Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.

17But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: 'Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.

18If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.

19And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.

20But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.

22But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.

23He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

24'When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'

25And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order.

26Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.'

27And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, 'Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!'

28But He said, 'More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!'

15And He said to them, 'You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

16'The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

17And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

18'Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.

19'There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.

20But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,

21desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

23And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24'Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'

25But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.

26And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'

27'Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house,

28for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'

29Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'

30And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'

31But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.' '

1Then He said to the disciples, 'It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!

2It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

3Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

4And if he sins against you seven times in day, and seven times in day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him.'