Exodus 37, John 16, Proverbs 13, Ephesians 6

Exodus 37,

1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood-two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.
 
2 He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it.
 
3 He cast four gold rings for it and fastened them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other.
 
4 Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
 
5 And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.
 
6 He made the atonement cover of pure gold-two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.
 
7 Then he made two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover.
 
8 He made one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; at the two ends he made them of one piece with the cover.
 
9 The cherubim had their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the cover.
 
10 They made the table of acacia wood-two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.
 
11 Then they overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it.
 
12 They also made around it a rim a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim.
 
13 They cast four gold rings for the table and fastened them to the four corners, where the four legs were.
 
14 The rings were put close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table.
 
15 The poles for carrying the table were made of acacia wood and were overlaid with gold.
 
16 And they made from pure gold the articles for the table-its plates and dishes and bowls and its pitchers for the pouring out of drink offerings.
 
17 They made the lampstand of pure gold and hammered it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms were of one piece with it.
 
18 Six branches extended from the sides of the lampstand-three on one side and three on the other.
 
19 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on one branch, three on the next branch and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand.
 
20 And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms.
 
21 One bud was under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair-six branches in all.
 
22 The buds and the branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.
 
23 They made its seven lamps, as well as its wick trimmers and trays, of pure gold.
 
24 They made the lampstand and all its accessories from one talent of pure gold.
 
25 They made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high-its horns of one piece with it.
 
26 They overlaid the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it.
 
27 They made two gold rings below the molding-two on opposite sides-to hold the poles used to carry it.
 
28 They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
 
29 They also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense-the work of a perfumer.

John 16,

1 "All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.
 
2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.
 
3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.
 
4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.
 
5 "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'
 
6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief.
 
7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
 
8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
 
9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me;
 
10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;
 
11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
 
12 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.
 
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
 
14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.
 
15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
 
16 "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."
 
17 Some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?"
 
18 They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying."
 
19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'?
 
20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
 
21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.
 
22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
 
23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
 
24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
 
25 "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.
 
26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.
 
27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.
 
28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."
 
29 Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech.
 
30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."
 
31 "You believe at last!" Jesus answered.
 
32 "But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
 
33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Proverbs 13,

1 A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
 
2 From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful have a craving for violence.
 
3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
 
4 The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
 
5 The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.
 
6 Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
 
7 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
 
8 A man's riches may ransom his life, but a poor man hears no threat.
 
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
 
10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
 
11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.
 
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
 
13 He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded.
 
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
 
15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
 
16 Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly.
 
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
 
18 He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
 
19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
 
20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
 
21 Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.
 
22 A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.
 
23 A poor man's field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away.
 
24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
 
25 The righteous eat to their hearts' content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.

Ephesians 6

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
 
2 "Honor your father and mother"-which is the first commandment with a promise-
 
3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
 
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
 
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
 
6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
 
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,
 
8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
 
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
 
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
 
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
 
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
 
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
 
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
 
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
 
16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
 
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
 
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
 
19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
 
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
 
21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing.
 
22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
 
23 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.