Ezekiel 41 - 42, Hebrews 7, Proverbs 12

The Nave

41Then he ^abrought me to the ¹^,^bnave and measured the ^cside pillars; ²six cubits wide on each side was the width of the ³side pillar. ²The width of the entrance was ten cubits, and the ¹sides of the entrance were five cubits on each side. And he measured ²the length of the nave, ³^,^aforty cubits, and the width, ^btwenty cubits.

The Holy of Holies

³Then he went ¹^,^ainside and measured each ^bside pillar of the doorway, two cubits, and the doorway, six cubits high; and the width of the doorway, seven cubits. ⁴He measured its length, ^atwenty cubits, and the width, twenty cubits, before the ^bnave; and he said to me, “This is the ^cHoly of Holies.”

The Wall, Side Chambers, and West Building

⁵Then he measured the wall of the house of Yahweh, six cubits; and the width of the ^aside chambers, four cubits, all around about the house on every side. ⁶^aThe side chambers were in three stories, ¹one above another, and ²thirty in each story; and ³the side chambers ^bextended to the wall which stood on ⁴their inward side all around, that they might be fastened, and not be fastened into the wall of the house itself. ⁷The side chambers surrounding the house were wider at each successive story. Because the ^astructure surrounding the house went upward by stages on all sides of the house, therefore the width of the house increased as it went higher; and thus one went up from the lowest story to the highest by way of the ¹second story. ⁸I saw also that the house had a raised ¹platform all around; the foundations of the side chambers were a full rod of ²^,^asix ³long cubits in height. ⁹The ¹thickness of the outer wall of the side chambers was five cubits. But the ^afree space between the side chambers belonging to the house ¹⁰and the outer ^achambers was twenty cubits in width all around the house on every side. ¹¹The ¹doorways of the ²side chambers toward the ^afree space consisted of one doorway toward the north and another doorway toward the south; and the width of the place of the ^bfree space was five cubits all around.

¹²The ^abuilding that was in front of the ^bseparate area at the side toward the west was ¹seventy cubits wide; and the wall of the building was five cubits ²thick all around, and its length was ³ninety cubits.

The Measurements of the Building

¹³Then he measured the house, ¹one ^ahundred cubits long; the ^bseparate area with the ^cbuilding and its walls were also one ^dhundred cubits long. ¹⁴Also the width of the front of the house and that of the separate ¹areas along the east side totaled one hundred cubits.

¹⁵He measured the length of the ^abuilding ¹along the front of the ^bseparate area behind it, with a ²^,^cgallery on each side, one hundred cubits, along with the inner nave and the porches of the court.

Carvings and Furnishings

¹⁶The ^athresholds, the ¹^,^blatticed windows, and the ²^,^cgalleries round about their ^dthree stories, opposite the threshold, were ^epaneled with wood all around, and from the ground to the windows (but the windows were covered), ¹⁷over the entrance, and to the inner house, and on the outside, and on all the wall all around inside and outside, by measurement. ¹⁸It was ¹carved with ^acherubim and ^bpalm trees; and a palm tree was between cherub and cherub, and every cherub had two faces, ¹⁹a ^aman’s face toward the palm tree on one side and a young ^blion’s face toward the palm tree on the other side; they were ¹carved on all the house all around. ²⁰From the ground to above the entrance ^acherubim and ^bpalm trees were ¹carved, as well as on the wall of the nave.

²¹The ^adoorposts of the ^bnave were square; as for the front of the sanctuary, the appearance of one doorpost was like that of the other. ²²The ^aaltar was of wood, three cubits high and its length two cubits; its corners, its ¹base, and its ²sides were of wood. And he said to me, “This is the ^btable that is before Yahweh.” ²³The ^anave and the ^bsanctuary each had a double ^cdoor. ²⁴Each of the doors had two leaves, two ¹^,^aswinging leaves; two leaves for one door and two leaves for the other. ²⁵Also there were ¹carved on them, on the doors of the nave, ^acherubim and ^bpalm trees like those ²carved on the walls; and there was a ^ccanopy of wood over the front of the porch outside. ²⁶There were ¹^,^alatticed windows and ^bpalm trees on one side and on the other, on the sides of the ^cporch; thus were the ^dside chambers of the house and the canopies.

The Chambers

42Then he ^abrought me out into the ^bouter court, the way ^ctoward the north; and he brought me to the ^dchamber which was opposite the ^eseparate area and opposite the ^fbuilding toward the north. ²Along the length, which was ¹one ^ahundred cubits, was the north door; the width was fifty cubits. ³Opposite the ¹^,^atwenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and opposite the ^bpavement which belonged to the outer court, was ²^,^cgallery corresponding to ³gallery in three stories. ⁴Before the ^achambers was an inner walk ten cubits wide, a way of ¹one hundred cubits; and their openings were on the north. ⁵Now the upper chambers were ¹smaller because the ²^,^agalleries took more space away from them than from the lower and middle ones in the building. ⁶For they were in ^athree stories and had no pillars like the pillars of the courts; therefore the upper chambers were ¹set back from the ground upward, more than the lower and middle ones. ⁷As for the ^aouter wall by the side of the chambers, toward the outer court facing the chambers, its length was fifty cubits. ⁸For the length of the chambers which were in the outer court was fifty cubits; and behold, the length of those facing the temple was one ^ahundred cubits. ⁹Below these chambers was the ^aentrance on the east side, as one enters them from the outer court.

¹⁰In the ¹thickness of the ^awall of the court toward the east, facing the ^bseparate area and facing the building, there were ^cchambers. ¹¹The ^away in front of them was like the appearance of the chambers which were on the north, according to their length so was their width, and all their exits were both according to their ¹arrangements and openings. ¹²Corresponding to the openings of the chambers which were toward the south was an opening at the head of the way, the way in front of the ^awall toward the east, as one enters them.

¹³Then he said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers, which are opposite the ^aseparate area, they are the ^bholy chambers where the priests who are ^cnear to Yahweh shall eat the ^dmost holy things. There they shall lay the most holy things, the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering; for the place is holy. ¹⁴“When the priests enter, then they shall not go out into the outer court from the sanctuary ¹without ^alaying there their ^bgarments in which they minister, for they are holy. They shall put on other garments; then they shall come near to that which is for the people.”

¹⁵Then he had finished measuring the inner house; he brought me out by the way of the ^agate which faced toward the east and measured it all around. ¹⁶He measured on the east ¹side with the measuring reed 500 reeds by the ^ameasuring reed. ¹⁷He measured on the north side 500 reeds by the measuring reed. ¹⁸On the south side he measured 500 reeds with the measuring reed. ¹⁹He turned to the west side and measured 500 reeds with the measuring reed. ²⁰He measured it ¹on the four sides; it had a ^awall all around, the ^blength 500 and the ^cwidth 500, to ^ddivide between the holy and the profane.

The Priesthoods of Melchizedek and Christ

7For this ^aMelchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the ^bMost High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ²^ato whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. ³Without father, without mother, ^awithout genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like ^bthe Son of God, he remains a priest continually.

⁴Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the ^apatriarch, ^bgave a tenth of the spoils. ⁵And those indeed of ^athe sons of Levi, who receive the priest’s office, have a commandment ¹in the Law to collect ²a tenth from the people, that is, from their brothers, although these ³are descended from Abraham. ⁶But the one ^awhose genealogy is not traced from them had ^bcollected ¹a tenth from Abraham and ²^,^cblessed the one who ^dhad the promises. ⁷But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. ⁸And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, ^aof whom it is witnessed that he lives on. ⁹And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, ¹⁰for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

¹¹^aNow if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it ^bthe people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise ^caccording to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? ¹²For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. ¹³For ^athe one concerning whom ^bthese things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. ¹⁴For it is evident that our Lord ¹was ^adescended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. ¹⁵And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, ¹⁶who has become such not according to a law of ¹^,^aphysical requirement, but according to the power of ^ban indestructible life. ¹⁷For it is witnessed about Him, “^aYou are a priest foreverAccording to the order of Melchizedek.”

¹⁸For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment ^abecause of its weakness and uselessness ¹⁹(for ^athe Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better ^bhope, through which we ^cdraw near to God. ²⁰And inasmuch as it was not without an oath ²¹(for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “^aThe ¹Lord has swornAnd ^bwill not change His mind,‘You are a priest ^cforever’”);

²²so much more Jesus also has become the ^aguarantee of ^ba better covenant.

²³And ¹the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, ²⁴but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues ^aforever, holds His priesthood permanently. ²⁵Therefore He is able also to ^asave ¹forever those who ^bdraw near to God through Him, since He always lives to ^cmake intercession for them.

²⁶For it was fitting for us to have such a ^ahigh priest, ^bholy, ^cinnocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and ^dexalted above the heavens; ²⁷who does not need daily, like those high priests, to ^aoffer up sacrifices, ^bfirst for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did ^conce for all when He ^doffered up Himself. ²⁸For the Law appoints men as high priests ^awho are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints ^ba Son, who has been ^cmade perfect forever.

12Whoever loves ¹discipline loves knowledge,But he who hates reproof is senseless.²A ^agood man will obtain favor from Yahweh,But a man of evil schemes He will condemn.³A man will ^anot be established by wickedness,But the root of the ^brighteous will not be shaken.⁴¹An ^aexcellent wife is the crown of her husband,But she who causes shame is like ^brottenness in his bones.⁵The thoughts of the righteous are just,But the guidance of the wicked is deceitful.⁶The ^awords of the wicked lie in wait for blood,But the ^bmouth of the upright will deliver them.⁷The ^awicked are overthrown and are no more,But the ^bhouse of the righteous will stand.⁸A man will be praised according to his insight,But one of perverse heart will be despised.⁹Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servantThan he who honors himself and lacks bread.¹⁰A ^arighteous man knows the value of the life of his animal,But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.¹¹He ^awho cultivates his land will be satisfied with bread,But he who pursues empty things lacks a heart of wisdom.¹²The ^awicked man desires a stronghold of evil men,But the root of the righteous ^bgives fruit.¹³The snare of an evil man is in the transgression of his lips,But the ^arighteous man will come out from distress.¹⁴A man will be ^asatisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,And the good ^bdeed of a man’s hands will return to him.¹⁵The ^away of an ignorant fool is right in his own eyes,But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.¹⁶An ^aignorant fool’s ¹anger is known at once,But a prudent man conceals disgrace.¹⁷He who breathes out truth declares what is right,But a false witness, deceit.¹⁸There is one who ^aspeaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,But the ^btongue of the wise brings healing.¹⁹Truthful lips will be established forever,But a ^alying tongue is only for a moment.²⁰Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,But counselors of peace have gladness.²¹^aNo misfortune befalls the righteous,But the wicked are filled with calamity.²²^aLying lips are an abomination to Yahweh,But doers of faithfulness are His delight.²³A ^aprudent man conceals knowledge,But the heart of fools proclaims folly.²⁴The hand of the diligent will rule,But ¹the slack hand will be ^aput to forced labor.²⁵^aAnxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,But a ^bgood word makes it glad.²⁶The righteous is a guide to his neighbor,But the way of the wicked makes them wander about.²⁷A slack handed man does not ¹roast his prey,But the wealth of a man is ^aprecious for the diligent.²⁸^aIn the path of righteousness is life,And in its pathway there is no death.