Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying,
“Tell the sons of Israel to raise;
Collect a contribution for me, 
From every heart that’s moved to praise.

“These contributions you raise from them,
Whatever it is they can afford;
Be it gold, silver bronze, even cloth,
It is important to your Lord.

“Ram’s skins dyed red or porpoise skins,
Acacia wood, oil for lighting;
Spices for the anointing oil,
Whatever they can afford to bring.

“The onyx stones and setting stones,
For the ephod and the breast piece;
Have them build a sanctuary,
That I may dwell with them at least.

“According to what I’ll show you,
You are to build it just that way;
Tabernacle and furniture,
Build and place them just as I say.”

“Build an ark of acacia wood,
Make it two and a half cubits long;
Build it one and a half cubits wide,
Again the same in height; make it strong.

“Inside and out, do this next thing,
Overlay all of it in gold;
Make a gold molding around it,
Build it sturdy, make it look bold.

“You shall cast four gold rings for it,
And fasten them on its four feet;
Make two rings for one side of it,
On the other, simply repeat.

“Make poles of acacia wood,
Then overlay them in gold too;
Put the poles through the rings on the sides,
To carry the ark will be their use.

“Now listen to what I’m saying,
The poles shall remain in the rings;
They shall not be removed from it,
Make sure you understand these things.

“Then into the ark you shall place,
The commandments which I’ll give you;
Make a mercy seat of pure gold,
Exactly as I tell you to.

“Make two cherubim out of gold,
Hammered works at each end of the seat;
Make their wings spread up to the sky,
Place their wings to cover the seat.

“The faces of the cherubim,
Be sure that they face each other;
And turned toward the mercy seat,
So looking at one another.

“Put the seat on top of the ark,
And place the stone tablets inside;
The ones that I gave to Moses,
With my commandments I inscribed.

“It is there I will meet with you,
From there, above the mercy seat;
In between the two cherubim,
It is there with you I will speak.

“Build a table of acacia wood,
Two cubits long by one cubit wide;
By one and a half cubits high,
Be sure it’s exactly this size.

“Then overlay it with pure gold,
With a gold border all around;
Put a rim around the top edge,
With all the gold that you have found.

“Make four more gold rings and put them,
Above the feet at the corners;
Overlay gold on two more poles,
And the rings shall be their holders.

“And make gold plates and dishes too,
As well as some pitchers and bowls;
With which to pour drink offerings,
These must always be made from gold.

“Then place the Bread of the Presence,
On the table for all to see;
It must be there all of the time,
Ever on the table before me.

“Make a lamp stand of hammered gold,
Be sure it is made of one piece;
Its cups, its bulbs and its flowers,
Continuity will not cease.

“Six branches shall go from its sides,
Three on one, three on the other;
Decorate them as I describe,
With almond blossoms, bulbs and flowers.

“Make its lamps seven in number,
Set, so out front, it’s light does shine;
Its snuffers and trays all of gold,
From the finest that you can find.

"Made from a talent of pure gold,
All its utensils and the stand;
Be sure they’re made after the pattern,
I have shown you here on the mountain.”  

                                                   March 4, 2009