1 “ You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains of finely spun linen, each with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and cherubim skillfully worked into them. 2Each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide — all curtains the same size.

3 Five of the curtains are to be joined together, and the other five joined as well. 4Make loops of blue material on the edge of the end curtain in the first set, and do the same for the end curtain in the second set.

5 Make fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the second set, so that the loops line up opposite one another. 6Make fifty gold clasps as well, and join the curtains together with the clasps, so that the tabernacle will be a unit.

7 You are to make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle — eleven curtains in all. 8Each of the eleven curtains is to be the same size — thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.

9 Join five of the curtains into one set and the other six into another. Then fold the sixth curtain over double at the front of the tent.

10 Make fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in the first set, and fifty loops along the edge of the corresponding curtain in the second set. 11Make fifty bronze clasps and put them through the loops to join the tent together as a unit.

12 As for the overlap that remains of the tent curtains, the half curtain that is left over shall hang down over the back of the tabernacle. 13And the tent curtains will be a cubit longer on either side, and the excess will hang over the sides of the tabernacle to cover it.

14 Also make a covering for the tent out of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of fine leather.

15 You are to construct upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle. 16Each frame is to be ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 17Two tenons must be connected to each other for each frame. Make all the frames of the tabernacle in this way.

18 Construct twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle, 19with forty silver bases under the twenty frames — two bases for each frame, one under each tenon.

20 For the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, make twenty frames 21and forty silver bases — two bases under each frame.

22 Make six frames for the rear of the tabernacle, the west side, 23and two frames for the two back corners of the tabernacle, 24coupled together from bottom to top and fitted into a single ring. These will serve as the two corners. 25So there are to be eight frames and sixteen silver bases — two under each frame.

26 You are also to make five crossbars of acacia wood for the frames on one side of the tabernacle, 27five for those on the other side, and five for those on the rear side of the tabernacle, to the west.

28 The central crossbar in the middle of the frames shall extend from one end to the other. 29Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold.

30 So you are to set up the tabernacle according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.

31 Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it. 32Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood, overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. 33And hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the veil. So the veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

34 Put the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place. 35And place the table outside the veil on the north side of the tabernacle, and put the lampstand opposite the table, on the south side.

36 For the entrance to the tent, you are to make a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. 37Make five posts of acacia wood for the curtain, overlay them with gold, use hooks of gold, and cast five bronze basesfor them.’’

1 “ You are to build an altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. 2Make a horn on each of its four corners, so that the horns are of one piece, and overlay it with bronze.

3 Make all its utensils of bronze — its pots for removing ashes, its shovels, its sprinkling bowls, its meat forks, and its firepans. 4Construct for it a grate of bronze mesh, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the mesh. 5Set the grate beneath the ledge of the altar, so that the mesh comes halfway up the altar.

6 Additionally, make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze. 7The poles are to be inserted into the rings so that the poles are on two sides of the altar when it is carried.

8 Construct the altar with boards so that it is hollow. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.

9 You are also to make a courtyard for the tabernacle. On the south side of the courtyard make curtains of finely spun linen, a hundred cubits long on one side, 10with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and silver hooks and bands on the posts.

11 Likewise there are to be curtains on the north side, a hundred cubits long, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. 12The curtains on the west side of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits wide, with ten posts and ten bases.

13 The east side of the courtyard, toward the sunrise, is to be fifty cubits wide. 14Make the curtains on one side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases, 15and the curtains on the other side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases.

16 The gate of the courtyard shall be twenty cubits long, with a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It shall have four posts and four bases.

17 All the posts around the courtyard shall have silver bands, silver hooks, and bronze bases. 18The entire courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, with curtains of finely spun linen five cubits high, and with bronze bases. 19All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, including all its tent pegs and the tent pegs of the courtyard, shall be made of bronze.

20 And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.

21 In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamps before the Lord from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the Israelites for the generations to come.’’

1 “ At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. 4But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 ‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.

11 Later the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’

12 But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’

13 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

14 For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. 15To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent — each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey.

16 The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more. 17Likewise, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the servant who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

19 After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The servant who had received the five talents came and presented five more. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’

21 His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’

22 The servant who had received the two talents also came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I have gained two more.’

23 His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’

24 Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you.’

26 ‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest.

28 Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’