« | Exodus 37 | » |
1 Bezalel made the Chest using acacia wood: He made it three and three-quarters feet long and two and a quarter feet wide and deep.
2 He covered it inside and out with a veneer of pure gold and made a molding of gold all around it.
3 He cast four gold rings and attached them to its four feet, two rings on one side and two rings on the other.
4 He made poles from acacia wood, covered them with a veneer of gold,
5 and inserted the poles for carrying the Chest into the rings on the sides.
6 Next he made a lid of pure gold for the Chest, an Atonement-Cover, three and three-quarters feet long and two and a quarter feet wide.
7 He sculpted two winged angel-cherubim out of hammered gold for the ends of the Atonement-Cover,
8 one angel at one end, one angel at the other. He made them of one piece with the Atonement-Cover.
9 The angels had outstretched wings and appeared to hover over the Atonement-Cover, facing one another but looking down on the Atonement-Cover.
10 He made the Table from acacia wood. He made it three feet long, one and a half feet wide and two and a quarter feet high.
11 He covered it with a veneer of pure gold and made a molding of gold all around it.
12 He made a border a handbreadth wide all around it and a rim of gold for the border.
13 He cast four rings of gold for it and attached the rings to the four legs
14 parallel to the table top. They will serve as holders for the poles used to carry the Table.
15 He made the poles of acacia wood and covered them with a veneer of gold. They will be used to carry the Table.
16 Out of pure gold he made the utensils for the Table: its plates, bowls, jars, and jugs used for pouring.
17 He made a Lampstand of pure hammered gold, making its stem and branches, cups, calyxes, and petals all of one piece.
18 It had six branches, three from one side and three from the other;
19 three cups shaped like almond blossoms with calyxes and petals on one branch, three on the next, and so on--the same for all six branches.
20 On the main stem of the Lampstand, there were four cups shaped like almonds, with calyxes and petals,
21 a calyx extending from under each pair of the six branches.
22 The entire Lampstand with its calyxes and stems was fashioned from one piece of hammered pure gold.
23 He made seven of these lamps with their candle snuffers, all out of pure gold.
24 He used a seventy-five-pound brick of pure gold to make the Lampstand and its accessories.
25 He made an Altar for burning incense from acacia wood. He made it a foot and a half square and three feet high, with its horns of one piece with it.
26 He covered it with a veneer of pure gold, its top, sides, and horns, and made a gold molding around it
27 with two rings of gold beneath the molding. He placed the rings on the two opposing sides to serve as holders for poles by which it will be carried.
28 He made the poles of acacia wood and covered them with a veneer of gold.
29 He also prepared with the art of a perfumer the holy anointing oil and the pure aromatic incense.
The Message (MSG)
The Message (MSG) is a contemporary, paraphrased translation of the Bible, crafted to bring the scriptures to life in modern, conversational English. Developed by pastor and scholar Eugene H. Peterson, The Message was published in segments starting in 1993, with the complete Bible released in 2002. Peterson’s aim was to make the Bible accessible and engaging for today’s readers, breaking down the barriers posed by traditional, formal language. His work sought to capture the original tone, rhythm, and intent of the biblical texts, presenting them in a way that resonates with contemporary audiences.
One of the defining characteristics of The Message is its use of dynamic equivalence, focusing on conveying the thoughts and meanings behind the original texts rather than adhering to a word-for-word translation. This approach allows for the use of idiomatic expressions and modern phrasing, making the scriptures feel more relatable and immediate. Peterson, who had a deep understanding of both the biblical languages and modern culture, aimed to bridge the gap between the ancient world of the Bible and the everyday experiences of today’s readers.
The Message has been praised for its readability and ability to convey the emotional and narrative elements of the Bible in a fresh, vivid manner. Its accessible language makes it particularly appealing to those who might find traditional translations difficult to understand or intimidating. Many readers appreciate The Message for its ability to make familiar passages feel new and impactful, often shedding light on the scriptures in ways that resonate on a personal level. It is frequently used in personal devotions, group studies, and church services where clarity and relatability are paramount.
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