Exodus 31

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

1The LORD spoke to Moses. He said:

2See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

2"Look. I have chosen a man named Bezaleel. He is the son of Uri and the grandson of Hur. He is from the family group of Judah.

3And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

3I have filled him with the Spirit of God. I gave him skill and good sense. I gave him knowledge and every kind of building and making skill.

4To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

4He can plan beautiful things. He can work with gold, silver, and bronze.

5And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

5He can cut stones and set them in place. He can carve wood. He can do every kind of work.

6And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

6I have also given him a helper. His name is Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, from the family group of Dan. I have put skill in the hearts of all the good workers. Now they can make everything I told you to make.

7The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle,

7They will make the tent where the people meet with me. They will make the special box that holds my words. They will make its cover, called the mercy seat. They will make all the things that go in the tent.

NoteThe KJV says "furniture," which then meant the tools and equipment used with something, not chairs and tables.

8And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense,

8They will make the table and its dishes. They will make the pure gold lampstand and all its parts. They will make the altar where sweet-smelling smoke is burned.

NoteThe KJV word "candlestick" means a lampstand that held oil lamps, not wax candles.

9And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot,

9They will make the altar where offerings are burned, and all its tools. They will make the big washing bowl and its stand.

10And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office,

10They will make the woven clothes for serving. They will make the holy clothes for Aaron the priest. Aaron led the people in worship. They will make the clothes for his sons, who helped him.

11And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.

11They will make the special oil for pouring on things. They will make the sweet-smelling incense for the holy room. They must make it all just as I told you."

12And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

12The LORD spoke to Moses. He said:

13Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.

13"Tell the people of Israel this: You must keep my sabbath days. The sabbath is my special rest day. It is a sign between me and you, for all the years to come. It will show that I am the LORD who makes you holy.

14Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

14Keep the sabbath, because it is holy for you. Anyone who treats it as common must be put to death. Anyone who works on that day must be cut off from the people.

Note"Cut off from among his people" means put out of the group, no longer counted as one of them.

15Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

15You may work for six days. But the seventh day is a sabbath of rest. It is holy to the LORD. Anyone who works on the sabbath day must be put to death.

16Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

16So the people of Israel must keep the sabbath. They must keep it in every family, in all the years to come. It is a promise that never ends.

17It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

17It is a sign between me and the people of Israel forever. In six days the LORD made the sky and the earth. On the seventh day he stopped and rested."

18And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

18God finished talking with Moses on Mount Sinai. Then he gave Moses two flat stones. God's words were written on them by the finger of God.