Exodus 35
Regulations Regarding the Sabbath
1 Now Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together and said to them, “These are the words the Lord said for you to do.
2 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord. Whoever does work on it shall be put to death.
3 You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath Day; I am the Lord.”
4 Again Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing the Lord commanded, saying,
5 ‘Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring his first fruits to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze;†
6 blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, fine linen, and female goats’ hair;
7 ram skins dyed red, skins dyed blue, and incorruptible wood;
8 sardius stones and stones to be set in the ephod and the full-length robe.
9 ‘Every man wise in heart among you, let him come and do all the Lord has commanded:
10 the tabernacle, its cords, coverings, rings, bars, and posts;
11 the ark of the testimony, its poles, mercy seat, and veil;
12 and the curtains of the court and its posts;
13 and the emerald stones;
14 and the incense and the anointing oil;
15 and the table and all its utensils;
16 and the illuminating lampstand and all its utensils;
17 and the altar and all its utensils;
18 and the holy vestments of Aaron the priest and the garments in which they shall do service;
19 and the priestly robes for the sons of Aaron and the compounded incense.’ ”
20 So all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.
21 Then everyone came whose heart was stirred and whose soul was willing; and they brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of testimony, for all its service and the garments of the holy place.
22 They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing mind, and brought signets, earrings, rings, and necklaces, all jewelry of gold to the Lord.
23 Also every man with whom was found blue fabric and skins dyed blue and skins dyed red brought them.
24 Everyone who offered an offering of silver or bronze also brought these to the Lord; and everyone with whom was found incorruptible wood for any work of the service brought it.
25 All the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands and brought what they spun—of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen.
26 Also all the women whose heart stirred with wisdom spun yarn of female goats’ hair.
27 The rulers brought emerald stones, and the stones to be set in the ephod and in the oracle,
28 and the compounds for the anointing oil, and the compounds for the incense.
29 Thus the children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose minds were willing to bring material for all kinds of work, which the Lord, by the hand of Moses, commanded to be done.
Artisans for the Tabernacle
30 Then Moses said to the children of Israel, “Behold, God has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;
31 and He has filled him with a divine Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in all things†
32 to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze,
33 in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship.
34 He has put in his mind and in that of Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach.
35 He filled them with wisdom, understanding, and skill to do all manner of work of the holy place, and to weave the woven and embroidered work with scarlet and fine linen, and to do all work of curious workmanship and embroidery.”
Psalms 72
15 If I should speak, I would describe it thus: Behold, I am breaking covenant with the generation of your children.
16 And I sought to understand this; It was difficult in my sight,
17 Until I came into God’s holy place And understood their end.
18 Surely, for their deceits You appointed deceits for them; You cast them down in their exaltation.
19 Oh, how they came into desolation suddenly! They ceased to be; they perished in their lawlessness.
20 Like a dream to one who is awakened, So, O Lord, You shall despise their image in Your city.
21 For my heart was kindled, And my reins were changed,
22 And I was despised, and did not know; I became like a beast before You.
23 And I am continually with You; You hold fast my right hand;
24 With Your counsel You guide me, And with glory You take hold of me.
25 For what is there in heaven for me but You, And what do I desire on earth besides You?
26 My heart and my flesh fail, O God of my heart; and God is my portion forever.
27 For behold, those who keep themselves far away from You shall perish; You destroy away from You all who act unfaithfully.
28 But as for me, it is good to cling to God, To put my hope in the Lord, That I may proclaim all Your praises In the gates of the daughter of Zion.
Proverbs of Solomon 15
6 In abundant righteousness there is much strength, But the ungodly shall utterly perish from the earth.
7 In the houses of the righteous there is much strength, But the fruits of the ungodly shall perish.
8 The lips of the wise are bound by perception, But the hearts of those without discernment are not safe.†
9 The sacrifices of the ungodly are an abomination to the Lord, But the prayers of the upright are acceptable with Him.
10 The ways of the ungodly are an abomination to the Lord, But He loves those who pursue righteousness.
Luke 2
Simeon’s Song: The Nunc Dimittis
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.†
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,
28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:†
29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;†
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against†
35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.Ӡ
Anna’s Prophecy
36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;
37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.†
Jesus’ Childhood in Nazareth
39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.†
Jesus in His Father’s House
41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.†
42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.
43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;
44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.†
47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.
48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”†
49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”†
50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
Jesus’ Growth
51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.