AME Zion Universal Reading February 27th 2022

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First Portion

Exodus Chapter 35

1Moses called the whole community of the children of Israel to assemble, and he said to them: "These are the things that the Lord commanded to make.2Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have sanctity, a day of complete rest to the Lord; whoever performs work thereon [on this day] shall be put to death.3You shall not kindle fire in any of your dwelling places on the Sabbath day."4And Moses spoke to the entire community of the children of Israel, saying: "This is the word that the Lord has commanded to say:5'Take from yourselves an offering for the Lord; every generous hearted person shall bring it, [namely] the Lord's offering: gold, silver, and copper;6and blue, purple, and crimson wool; and linen and goat hair;7and ram skins dyed red, tachash skins, and acacia wood;8and oil for lighting, and spices for the anointing oil and for the incense;9and shoham stones and filling stones for the ephod and for the choshen.10And every wise hearted person among you shall come and make everything that the Lord has commanded:11The Mishkan, its tent and its cover, its clasps and its planks, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets;12the ark and its poles, the ark cover and the screening dividing curtain;13the table and its poles and all its implements, and the showbread;14and the menorah for lighting and its implements and its lamps, and the oil for lighting;15and the altar for incense and its poles, and the anointing oil and the incense and the screen of the entrance for the entrance of the Mishkan;16the altar for the burnt offering, its copper grating, its poles and all its implements, the washstand and its base;17the hangings of the courtyard, its pillars, and its sockets, and the screen of the gate of the courtyard;18the pegs of the Mishkan and the pegs of the courtyard, and their ropes;19the meshwork garments to serve in the Holy, the holy garments for Aaron the Kohen [Gadol], and the garments of his sons [in which] to serve [as kohanim].' "20The entire community departed from before Moses.

Sunday

Job 42:1–17 (NLT): Job Responds to the Lord

Then Job replied to the Lord:

2 “I know that you can do anything,

and no one can stop you.

3 You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’

It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,

things far too wonderful for me.

4 You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!

I have some questions for you,

and you must answer them.’

5 I had only heard about you before,

but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

6 I take back everything I said,

and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

Conclusion: The Lord Blesses Job

7 After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. 8 So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the Lord commanded them, and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.

10 When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! 11 Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the Lord had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring.

12 So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. 14 He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. 15 In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers.

16 Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. 17 Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life.

Second Portion

Exodus Chapter 35

21Every man whose heart uplifted him came, and everyone whose spirit inspired him to generosity brought the offering of the Lord for the work of the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.22The men came with the women; every generous hearted person brought bracelets and earrings and rings and buckles, all kinds of golden objects, and every man who waved a waving of gold to the Lord.23And every man with whom was found blue, purple, or crimson wool, linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red or tachash skins, brought them.24Everyone who set aside an offering of silver or copper brought the offering for the Lord, and everyone with whom acacia wood was found for any work of the service, brought it.25And every wise hearted woman spun with her hands, and they brought spun material: blue, purple, and crimson wool, and linen.26And all the women whose hearts uplifted them with wisdom, spun the goat hair.27And the princes brought the shoham stones and filling stones for the ephod and for the choshen;28and the spice and the oil for lighting and for the anointing oil, and for the incense.29Every man and woman whose heart inspired them to generosity to bring for all the work that the Lord had commanded to make, through Moses, the children of Israel brought a gift for the Lord

Monday

Genesis 18:20–33 (NLT):

20 So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. 21 I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”

22 The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. 23 Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? 24 Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? 25 Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”

26 And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”

27 Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”

And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”

29 Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?”

And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”

30 “Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”

And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”

31 Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?”

And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”

32 Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?”

And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”

33 When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.

Third Portion

Exodus Chapter 35

30Moses said to the children of Israel: "See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.31He has imbued him with the spirit of God, with wisdom, with insight, and with knowledge, and with [talent for] all manner of craftsmanship32to do master weaving, to work with gold, silver, and copper,33with the craft of stones for setting and with the craft of wood, to work with every [manner of] thoughtful work.34And He put into his heart [the ability] to teach, both him and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.35He imbued them with wisdom of the heart, to do all sorts of work of a craftsman and a master worker and an embroiderer with blue, purple, and crimson wool, and linen and [of] weavers, those who do every [manner of] work, and master weavers.

Exodus Chapter 36

1Bezalel and Oholiab and every wise hearted man into whom God had imbued wisdom and insight to know how to do, shall do all the work of the service of the Holy, according to all that the Lord has commanded."2And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every wise hearted man into whose heart the Lord had given wisdom, everyone whose heart lifted him up to approach the work to do it.3So they took from before Moses all the offering[s] that the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the Holy, and they brought him more gifts every morning.4Then all the wise men who were doing the work of the Holy came, each one from his work, which they had been doing.5And they spoke to Moses, saying: "The people are bringing very much, more than is enough for the labor of the articles which the Lord had commanded to do."6So Moses commanded, and they announced in the camp, saying: "Let no man or woman do any more work for the offering for the Holy." So the people stopped bringing.7And the work was sufficient for them for all the work, to do it and to leave over.

Tuesday

Psalm 37:1–11 (NLT):

1 Don’t worry about the wicked

or envy those who do wrong.

2 For like grass, they soon fade away.

Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good.

Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

4 Take delight in the Lord,

and he will give you your heart’s desires.

5 Commit everything you do to the Lord.

Trust him, and he will help you.

6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,

and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

7 Be still in the presence of the Lord,

and wait patiently for him to act.

Don’t worry about evil people who prosper

or fret about their wicked schemes.

8 Stop being angry!

Turn from your rage!

Do not lose your temper—

it only leads to harm.

9 For the wicked will be destroyed,

but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

10 Soon the wicked will disappear.

Though you look for them, they will be gone.

11 The lowly will possess the land

and will live in peace and prosperity.

Fourth Portion

Exodus Chapter 36

8Then all the wise hearted people of the performers of the work made the Mishkan out of ten curtains [consisting] of twisted fine linen, and blue, purple, and crimson wool. A cherubim design, the work of a master weaver he made them.9The length of one curtain [was] twenty eight cubits, and the width of one curtain [was] four cubits the same measure for all the curtains.10And he joined five of these curtains to one another, and [the other] five curtains he [also] joined to one another.11And he made loops of blue wool on the edge of one curtain [that is] at the edge of the [first] set, and he did the same on the edge of the outermost curtain of the second set.12He made fifty loops on [the edge of] one curtain, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain in the second set; the loops corresponded to one another.13And he made fifty golden clasps, and he fastened the curtains to one another with the clasps; so the Mishkan became one.14And [then] he made curtains of goat hair for a tent over the Mishkan; he made them eleven curtains.15The length of one curtain [was] thirty cubits, and the width of one curtain was four cubits; the same measure for the eleven curtains.16And he joined the five curtains by themselves, and the [other] six curtains by themselves.17And he made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain of the [first] set, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the [outermost] curtain of the second set.18And he made fifty copper clasps to fasten the tent together so that it became one.19And he made a covering for the tent, of ram skins dyed red and a covering of tachash skins above.

Wednesday

Psalm 37:21–40 (NLT):

21 The wicked borrow and never repay,

but the godly are generous givers.

22 Those the Lord blesses will possess the land,

but those he curses will die.

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.

He delights in every detail of their lives.

24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,

for the Lord holds them by the hand.

25 Once I was young, and now I am old.

Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned

or their children begging for bread.

26 The godly always give generous loans to others,

and their children are a blessing.

27 Turn from evil and do good,

and you will live in the land forever.

28 For the Lord loves justice,

and he will never abandon the godly.

He will keep them safe forever,

but the children of the wicked will die.

29 The godly will possess the land

and will live there forever.

30 The godly offer good counsel;

they teach right from wrong.

31 They have made God’s law their own,

so they will never slip from his path.

32 The wicked wait in ambush for the godly,

looking for an excuse to kill them.

33 But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed

or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.

34 Put your hope in the Lord.

Travel steadily along his path.

He will honor you by giving you the land.

You will see the wicked destroyed.

35 I have seen wicked and ruthless people

flourishing like a tree in its native soil.

36 But when I looked again, they were gone!

Though I searched for them, I could not find them!

37 Look at those who are honest and good,

for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.

38 But the rebellious will be destroyed;

they have no future.

39 The Lord rescues the godly;

he is their fortress in times of trouble.

40 The Lord helps them,

rescuing them from the wicked.

He saves them,

and they find shelter in him.

Fifth Portion

Exodus Chapter 36

20And he made the planks for the Mishkan of acacia wood, upright.21Ten cubits [was] the length of each plank, and a cubit and a half [was] the width of each plank.22Each plank had two square pegs, rung like, one even with the other; so did he make for all the planks of the Mishkan.23And he made the planks for the Mishkan, twenty planks for the southern side.24And he made forty silver sockets under the twenty planks; two sockets under one plank for its two square pegs, and two sockets under one plank for its two square pegs.25And for the second side of the Mishkan on the northern side he made twenty planks.26And their forty silver sockets: two sockets under one plank and two sockets under one plank.27And for the western end of the Mishkan he made six planks.28And he made two planks at the corners of the Mishkan at the end.29And they were matched evenly from below, and together they matched at its top, [to be put] into the one ring; so did he make for both of them; for the two corners.30And there were eight planks and their silver sockets, sixteen sockets two sockets [under one plank and] two sockets under one plank.31And he made bars of acacia wood, five for the planks of one side of the Mishkan,32and five bars for the planks of the second side of the Mishkan, and five bars for the planks of the [rear] side of the Mishkan, on the westward end.33And he made the middle bar to penetrate in the midst of the planks from one end to the other end.34And he overlaid the planks with gold, and their rings he made of gold as holders for the bars, and he overlaid the bars with gold.35And he made the dividing curtain of blue, purple, and crimson wool, and twisted fine linen; the work of a master weaver he made it, in a [woven] cherubim design.36And he made for it four pillars of acacia wood, and he overlaid them with gold, their hooks [were] gold, and he cast for them four silver sockets.37And he made a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue, purple, and crimson wool, and twisted fine linen the work of an embroiderer,38and its five pillars and their hooks, and he overlaid their tops and their bands with gold, and their five sockets were copper.

Exodus Chapter 37

1Bezalel 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.2And he overlaid it with pure gold from inside and from outside, and he made for it a golden crown all around.3And he cast four golden rings for it upon its four corners, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side.4And he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.5And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark.6And he made an ark cover of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.7And he made two golden cherubim he made them of hammered work, from the two ends of the ark cover,8one cherub from the one end and the other cherub from the other end; from the ark cover he made the cherubim from its two ends.9The cherubim had their wings spread upwards, shielding the ark cover with their wings, with their faces toward one another; [turned] toward the ark cover were the faces of the cherubim.10And he made a table of acacia wood two cubits long, one cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.11He overlaid it with pure gold, and he made for it a golden crown all around.12And he made for it a frame a handbreadth [wide] all around, and he made a golden crown for its frame all around.13And he cast for it four golden rings, and he placed the rings on the four corners that are on its four legs.14The rings were opposite the frame [as] holders for the poles [with which] to carry the table.15And he made the poles of acacia wood, and he overlaid them with gold, to carry the table.16And he made the implements that are on the table: its forms, its spoons, its half pipes, and its supports with which it will be covered of pure gold.

Thursday

Romans 14:13–23 (NLT):

13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

14 I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. 15 And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. 16 Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. 17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

20 Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. 22 You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. 23 But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

Sixth Portion

Exodus Chapter 37

17And he made the menorah of pure gold; of hammered work he made the menorah, its base and its stem, its goblets, its knobs, and its flowers were [all one piece] with it.18And six branches coming out of its sides: three menorah branches from its one side and three menorah branches from its second side.19Three decorated goblets on one branch, a knob and a flower, and three decorated goblets on one branch, a knob and a flower; so for the six branches that come out of the menorah.20And on [the stem of] the menorah [were] four decorated goblets, its knobs and its flowers.21And a knob under the two branches from it, and a knob under the two branches from it, and a knob under the two branches from it; [so] for the six branches that come out of it.22Their knobs and their branches were [all one piece] with it; all of it [was] one hammered mass of pure gold.23And he made its lamps seven, and its tongs and its scoops of pure gold.24He made it of a talent of pure gold, and all its implements.25And he made the incense altar out of acacia wood, one cubit long and one cubit wide, square, and two cubits high; its horns were [one piece] with it.26And he overlaid it with pure gold, [on] its top, its walls all around, and its horns; and he made for it a golden crown all around.27And he made two golden rings for it underneath its crown on its two corners, on its two sides, as holders for poles with which to carry it.28He made the poles out of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.29And he made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense after the art of a perfumer.

Friday

Matthew 12:1–14 (NLT): A Discussion about the Sabbath

At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. 2 But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”

3 Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. 5 And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? 6 I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! 7 But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ 8 For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

9 Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, 10 where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)

11 And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. 12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”

13 Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! 14 Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.

Seventh Portion

Exodus Chapter 38

1And he made the altar for the burnt offerings of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; [the altar was] square, and it [was] three cubits high.2And he made its horns on its four corners; its horns were [all one piece] from it, and he overlaid it with copper.3And he made all the implements of the altar, the pots, and the shovels and the sprinkling basins and the flesh hooks and the [fire] pans; he made all its implements of copper.4And he made for the altar a copper grating of netting work, beneath its ledge from below, until its middle.5And he cast four rings on the four ends of the copper grating, holders for the poles.6And he made the poles of acacia wood, and he overlaid them with copper.7And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar with which to carry it; he made it hollow, out of boards.8And he made the washstand of copper and its base of copper from the mirrors of the women who had set up the legions, who congregated at the entrance of the tent of meeting.9And he made the courtyard on the southern side [there were] hangings for the courtyard of twisted fine linen, one hundred cubits.10And their pillars [were] twenty and their sockets twenty of copper; the hooks of the pillars and their bands of silver.11And for the northern end one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty of copper; the hooks of the pillars and their bands of silver.12And for the western side, hangings fifty cubits, their pillars ten and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars and their bands of silver.13And for the eastern end, fifty cubits.14The hangings on the shoulder [were] fifteen cubits, their pillars three and their sockets three.15And on the second shoulder on either side of the gate of the courtyard, [there were] hangings of fifteen cubits, their pillars three and their sockets three.16All the hangings of the courtyard all around were of twisted fine linen.17And the sockets for the pillars were copper; the hooks of the pillars and their bands were silver, and the overlay of their tops was silver, and they were banded with silver, all the pillars of the courtyard.18And the screen of the gate of the courtyard was the work of an embroiderer, [made] of blue, purple, and crimson wool, and twisted fine linen, twenty cubits long, and its height in the width was five cubits, corresponding to the hangings of the courtyard.19And their pillars [were] four and their sockets four, of copper, their hooks silver, and the overlay of their tops and their bands were silver.20And all the pegs of the Mishkan and of the courtyard all around [were] copper.

Saturday

Job 19:23–29 (NLT):

23 “Oh, that my words could be recorded.

Oh, that they could be inscribed on a monument,

24 carved with an iron chisel and filled with lead,

engraved forever in the rock.

25 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,

and he will stand upon the earth at last.

26 And after my body has decayed,

yet in my body I will see God!

27 I will see him for myself.

Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.

I am overwhelmed at the thought!

28 “How dare you go on persecuting me,

saying, ‘It’s his own fault’?

29 You should fear punishment yourselves,

for your attitude deserves punishment.

Then you will know that there is indeed a judgment.”

Maftir Portion

Exodus Chapter 30

11The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:12"When you take the sum of the children of Israel according to their numbers, let each one give to the Lord an atonement for his soul when they are counted; then there will be no plague among them when they are counted.13This they shall give, everyone who goes through the counting: half a shekel according to the holy shekel. Twenty gerahs equal one shekel; half of [such] a shekel shall be an offering to the Lord.14Everyone who goes through the counting, from the age of twenty and upward, shall give an offering to the Lord.15The rich shall give no more, and the poor shall give no less than half a shekel, with which to give the offering to the Lord, to atone for your souls.16You shall take the silver of the atonements from the children of Israel and use it for the work of the Tent of Meeting; it shall be a remembrance for the children of Israel before the Lord, to atone for your souls."

Haftarah

II Kings Chapter 11

17And Jehoiada enacted the covenant between the Lord and between the king and [between] the people, to be the people of the Lord, and between the king and between the people.18And all the people of the land came to the temple of the Baal and tore it down, its altars and its images they smashed, and Mattan the priest of the Baal they slew before the altars; and the priest set up appointees over the house of the Lord.19And he took the officers of the hundreds and the mighty warriors and the couriers and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and they came by way of the gate of the couriers to the king's palace; and he sat on the throne of the kings.20And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city quieted down, and Athaliah they had dispatched by the sword in the royal palace.

II Kings Chapter 12

1Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.2Jehoash became king in the seventh year of Jehu, and he reigned in Jerusalem for forty years; and his mother's name was Zibiah from Beersheba.3And Jehoash did what was proper in the eyes of the Lord all his days, what Jehoiada the priest instructed him.4However, the high places were not removed. The people were still slaughtering sacrifices and burning incense on the high places.5And Jehoash said to the priests, "All money of the hallowed things which is brought to the house of the Lord, the money of anyone who passes [the numbering], each one the money of the value of the people [whose value he vows to donate,] all money which comes upon a man's heart to bring to the house of the Lord.6The priests shall take for themselves each one from his acquaintance; and they shall strengthen the damage of the house, wherever damage is found."7And it was that in the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, the priests did not strengthen the damages of the house.8And King Jehoash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the priests and said to them, "Why are you not repairing the damage of the house? Now, take no money from your acquaintances, but give it for the damage of the house."9And the priests agreed not to take money from the people and not to repair the damage of the house.10And Jehoiada the priest took one chest and bored a hole in its door; and he placed it near the altar on the right, where a person enters the house of the Lord: and the priests, the guards of the threshold, would put all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, into there.11And it was when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest went up and packed and counted the money which was brought into the house of the Lord.12And they would give the counted money into the hands of the foremen of the work who were appointed in the house of the Lord; and they spent it for the carpenters and for the builders who work in the house of the Lord.13And for the masons and for the stonecutters and to buy wood and quarried stones to repair the damage of the house of the Lord, and for everything which would be spent for the house to strengthen it.14However, there would not be made for the house of the Lord, silver pitchers, musical instruments, basins, trumpets, or any golden or silver utensils, from the money brought into the house of the Lord.15But they would give it to the foremen over the work, and they would repair therewith the house of the Lord.16And they would not reckon with the men into whose hand they would give the money to give the foremen over the work, for they did [the work] honestly.17The money for guilt- offerings and the money for sin-offerings would not be brought to the house of the Lord; they would go to the priests.