Exodus 30
1 facies quoque altare in adolendum thymiama de lignis setthim
“[Tell the skilled workers to] make an altar from acacia wood, for burning incense.
2 habens cubitum longitudinis et alterum latitudinis id est quadrangulum et duos cubitos in altitudine cornua ex ipso procedent
It is to be square, (18 in./45 cm.) on each side. It is to be (3 feet/90 cm.) high. [Tell them to] make [a projection that looks like] a horn on each of the top corners. The projections must be carved from the same block of wood that the altar [is made from].
3 vestiesque illud auro purissimo tam craticulam eius quam parietes per circuitum et cornua faciesque ei coronam aureolam per gyrum
[They must] cover the top and the four sides, including the projections, with pure gold. Put a gold border around the altar, [near the top].
4 et duos anulos aureos sub corona per singula latera ut mittantur in eos vectes et altare portetur
[They must] make two gold rings for carrying the altar. [They must] attach them to the altar below the border, one on each side of the altar. These rings are for the poles for carrying the altar.
5 ipsos quoque vectes facies de lignis setthim et inaurabis
[Tell them to] make these [two] poles from acacia wood and cover them with gold.
6 ponesque altare contra velum quod ante arcam pendet testimonii coram propitiatorio quo tegitur testimonium ubi loquar tibi
[They must] put this altar outside the curtain that hangs in front of the sacred chest and its lid. That is the place where I will talk with you.
7 et adolebit incensum super eo Aaron suave fraglans mane quando conponet lucernas incendet illud
Aaron must burn sweet-smelling incense on this altar. He must burn some every morning when he takes care of the lamps,
8 et quando conlocat eas ad vesperum uret thymiama sempiternum coram Domino in generationes vestras
and he must burn some in the evening when he lights the lamps. The incense must be burned continually, throughout all future generations.
9 non offeretis super eo thymiama conpositionis alterius nec oblationem et victimam nec liba libabitis
The priests must not burn on the altar any incense that I have not told you to burn, or burn any animal on it, or any grain offering for me, or pour any wine on it as an offering.
10 et deprecabitur Aaron super cornua eius semel per annum in sanguine quod oblatum est pro peccato et placabit super eo in generationibus vestris sanctum sanctorum erit Domino
One time every year Aaron must perform the ritual for making this altar pure. He must do it by putting on its four projections some of the blood from the animal that was sacrificed (to remove the guilt of the people’s sins/so that the people would no longer be guilty for sins). This ritual is to be done by Aaron and his descendants throughout all future generations. This altar must be completely dedicated to me, Yahweh.”
11 locutusque est Dominus ad Mosen dicens
Yahweh also said to Moses/me,
12 quando tuleris summam filiorum Israhel iuxta numerum dabunt singuli pretium pro animabus suis Domino et non erit plaga in eis cum fuerint recensiti
“When your [leaders] (take a census of/count) the Israeli people, each man [who is counted] must pay to me a price to save his life. They must do this in order that no disaster will happen to them while the people are being counted.
13 hoc autem dabit omnis qui transit ad nomen dimidium sicli iuxta mensuram templi siclus viginti obolos habet media pars sicli offeretur Domino
Every man who is counted must pay to me (0.2 ounces/5.7 grams) of silver. They must use the official standard when they weigh the silver.
14 qui habetur in numero a viginti annis et supra dabit pretium
All the men who are at least 20 years old must pay this amount to me when the people are counted.
15 dives non addet ad medium sicli et pauper nihil minuet
Rich men must not pay more than this amount, and poor men must not pay less than this amount, when they pay this money to save their lives.
16 susceptamque pecuniam quae conlata est a filiis Israhel trades in usus tabernaculi testimonii ut sit monumentum eorum coram Domino et propitietur animabus illorum
Your leaders must collect this money from the Israeli people and give it to [those who will] take care of the Sacred Tent. This money is the payment for the lives of those who take care of the Sacred Tent, (to enable me not to forget them/and then I will remember to protect them).”
17 locutusque est Dominus ad Mosen dicens
Yahweh [also] said to Moses/me,
18 facies et labium aeneum cum basi sua ad lavandum ponesque illud inter tabernaculum testimonii et altare et missa aqua
“[Tell the skilled workers to] make a bronze washbasin and a bronze base for it. [They must] put it between the Sacred Tent and the altar, and fill it with water.
19 lavabunt in eo Aaron et filii eius manus suas ac pedes
Aaron and his sons must ritually wash their hands and their feet with this water
20 quando ingressuri sunt tabernaculum testimonii et quando accessuri ad altare ut offerant in eo thymiama Domino
before they enter the Sacred Tent and before they come to the altar to sacrifice offerings that will be burned on it. If [they do that], they will not die [because of disobeying my instructions].
21 ne forte moriantur legitimum sempiternum erit ipsi et semini eius per successiones
They must wash their hands and their feet, in order that they will not die. They and the males descended from them must obey this ritual throughout all generations.”
22 locutusque est Dominus ad Mosen
Yahweh also said to Moses/me,
23 dicens sume tibi aromata prima et zmyrnae electae quingentos siclos et cinnamomi medium id est ducentos quinquaginta calami similiter ducentos quinquaginta
“[Tell the people to] collect some of the finest spices— (12 pounds/6 kg.) of (liquid myrrh/sweet-smelling sap named myrrh), (6 pounds/3 kg.) of sweet-smelling cinnamon, (6 pounds/3 kg.) of a sweet-smelling cane/reed,
24 cassiae autem quingentos siclos in pondere sanctuarii olei de olivetis mensuram hin
and (12 pounds/6 kg.) of (cassia/a sweet-smelling bark named cassia). [Be sure] that they use the official standard when they weigh these things. Tell an expert perfumer to mix these with (one gallon/four liters) of olive oil
25 faciesque unctionis oleum sanctum unguentum conpositum opere unguentarii
to make sacred oil for anointing.
26 et ungues ex eo tabernaculum testimonii et arcam testamenti
Use this oil for anointing the Sacred Tent, the sacred chest,
27 mensamque cum vasis suis candelabrum et utensilia eius altaria thymiamatis
the table and all the things that are used with it, the lampstand and all the things that are used to take care of it, the altar for [burning] incense,
28 et holocausti et universam supellectilem quae ad cultum eorum pertinent
and the altar for offering sacrifices that will be burned, along with its bases and the washbasin and all the things that are used with it.
29 sanctificabisque omnia et erunt sancta sanctorum qui tetigerit ea sanctificabitur
Dedicate them by anointing them, in order that they will be completely holy/sacred. Anyone or anything that touches the altar will become taboo.
30 Aaron et filios eius ungues sanctificabisque eos ut sacerdotio fungantur mihi
And anoint Aaron and his sons. [By doing that], you will dedicate them to serve me [by being] priests.
31 filiis quoque Israhel dices hoc oleum unctionis sanctum erit mihi in generationes vestras
And tell the Israeli people, ‘This oil will be my sacred anointing oil that must be used throughout all future generations.
32 caro hominis non unguetur ex eo et iuxta conpositionem eius non facietis aliud quia sanctificatum est et sanctum erit vobis
You must not pour it on the bodies of people who are not priests, and you must not make other oil to be like it by mixing the same amount of those things. This oil is sacred, and you must consider it to be sacred.’
33 homo quicumque tale conposuerit et dederit ex eo alieno exterminabitur de populo suo
I will consider that anyone who makes ointment like this [for any other purpose], and anyone who puts any of this ointment on someone who is not a priest, no longer be allowed to associate with my people.”
34 dixitque Dominus ad Mosen sume tibi aromata stacten et onycha galbanen boni odoris et tus lucidissimum aequalis ponderis erunt omnia
Yahweh also said to Moses/me, “[Tell the people to] take equal parts of several sweet spices—stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense—
35 faciesque thymiama conpositum opere unguentarii mixtum diligenter et purum et sanctificatione dignissimum
and tell an expert perfumer to mix them together to make some perfume. Add some salt to keep it pure and make it holy.
36 cumque in tenuissimum pulverem universa contuderis pones ex eo coram testimonio tabernaculi in quo loco apparebo tibi sanctum sanctorum erit vobis thymiama
Beat some of it into a fine powder. Then take some of it into the Sacred Tent and sprinkle it in front of the sacred chest. You must all consider this incense to be very holy.
37 talem conpositionem non facietis in usus vestros quia sanctum est Domino
The people must not mix the same spices to make incense for themselves. This incense must be completely dedicated to me, Yahweh.
38 homo quicumque fecerit simile ut odore illius perfruatur peribit de populis suis
I will consider that anyone who makes incense like this to use it for perfume will no longer be allowed to associate with my people.”
