EXODUS – Chapter 37

The Ark

1Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high.

2The inside and outside were plated with gold, and a molding of gold was put around it.

3Four gold rings were cast for its four supports, two rings on one side and two on the opposite side.

4Poles of acacia wood were made and plated with gold;

5these poles were put through the rings on the sides of the ark, for carrying it.

6The cover was made of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.

7Two cherubim of beaten gold were made for the two ends of the cover;

8one cherub was at one end, the other at the other end, made of one piece with the cover, at each end.

9The cherubim had their wings spread out above, sheltering the cover. They faced each other, with their faces looking toward the cover.

The Table

10 The table was made of acacia wood, two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.

11It was plated with pure gold, and a molding of gold was put around it.

12A frame a handbreadth high was also put around it, with a molding of gold around the frame.

13Four rings of gold were cast for it and fastened at the four corners, one at each leg.

14The rings were alongside the frame as holders for the poles to carry the table.

15These poles for carrying the table were made of acacia wood and plated with gold.

16The vessels that were set on the table, its plates and cups, as well as its pitchers and bowls for pouring libations, were made of pure gold.

The Menorah

17 The menorah was made of pure beaten gold—its shaft and branches—with its cups and knobs and petals springing directly from it.

18Six branches extended from its sides, three branches on one side and three on the other.

19On one branch there were three cups, shaped like almond blossoms, each with its knob and petals; on the opposite branch there were three cups, shaped like almond blossoms, each with its knob and petals; and so for the six branches that extended from the menorah.

20On the menorah there were four cups, shaped like almond blossoms, with their knobs and petals.

21The six branches that went out from the menorah had a knob under each pair.

22The knobs and branches so sprang from it that the whole formed but a single piece of pure beaten gold.

23Its seven lamps, as well as its trimming shears and trays, were made of pure gold.

24A talent of pure gold was used for the menorah and its various utensils.

The Altar of Incense

25 The altar of incense was made of acacia wood, on a square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high, having horns that sprang directly from it.

26Its grate on top, its walls on all four sides, and its horns were plated with pure gold; and a gold molding was put around it.

27Underneath the molding gold rings were placed, two on one side and two on the opposite side, as holders for the poles used in carrying it.

28The poles, too, were made of acacia wood and plated with gold.

29The sacred anointing oil and the fragrant incense were prepared in their pure form by a perfumer.

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THE REVISED NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)