Numbers 4

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron:	1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
2 "Among the Levites take a total of the Kohathites, by clans and ancestral houses, all the men of the Kohathites	2 “Take a total of the sons of Kohath from the midst of the Levites, by their houses and families,
3 between thirty and fifty years of age; these are to undertake obligatory tasks in the meeting tent.	3 from thirty years and above, even to the fiftieth year, of all who enter so as to stand and minister in the tabernacle of the covenant.
4 "The service of the Kohathites in the meeting tent concerns the most sacred objects.	4 This is the service of the sons of Kohath: the tabernacle of the covenant and the Holy of holies.
5 In breaking camp, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the screening curtain and cover the ark of the commandments with it.	5 Aaron and his sons shall enter, when the camp is going to move, and they shall take down the veil, which hangs before the entrance, and they shall wrap the ark of the testimony in it,
6 Over these they shall put a cover of tahash skin, and on top of this spread an all-violet cloth. They shall then put the poles in place.	6 and they shall cover it further with a veil of violet skins, and they shall extend over it a cloth made entirely of hyacinth, and they shall draw in the bars.
7 On the table of the Presence they shall spread a violet cloth and put on it the plates and cups, as well as the bowls and pitchers for libations; the established bread offering shall remain on the table.	7 Likewise, they shall wrap the table of the presence in a cloth of hyacinth, and they shall place with it the censers and little mortars, the cups and bowls for pouring out libations; the bread shall be always on it.
8 Over these they shall spread a scarlet cloth and cover all this with tahash skin. They shall then put the poles in place.	8 And they shall extend over it a cloth of scarlet, which they shall further cover with a veil of violet skins, and they shall draw in the bars.
9 They shall use a violet cloth to cover the lampstand with its lamps, trimming shears, and trays, as well as the various containers of oil from which it is supplied.	9 They shall take also a cloth of hyacinth, with which they shall cover the lampstand with the lamps, and its tongs, and the candle snuffers, and all the vessels of oil, which are necessary for the preparation of the lamps.
10 The lampstand with all its utensils they shall then enclose in a covering of tahash skin, and place on a litter.	10 And over all this they shall place a covering of violet skins, and they shall draw in the bars.
11 Over the golden altar they shall spread a violet cloth, and cover this also with a covering of tahash skin. They shall then put the poles in place.	11 And certainly they shall wrap the golden altar in a hyacinth garment, and they shall extend over it a covering of violet skins, and they shall draw in the bars.
12 Taking the utensils of the sanctuary service, they shall wrap them all in violet cloth and cover them with tahash skin. They shall then place them on a litter.	12 All the vessels with which they minister in the Sanctuary they shall wrap in a cloth of hyacinth, and they shall extend over it a covering of violet skins, and they shall draw in the bars.
13 After cleansing the altar of its ashes, they shall spread a purple cloth over it.	13 Moreover, they shall cleanse the altar of ashes, and they shall wrap it in a purple garment,
14 On this they shall put all the utensils with which it is served: the fire pans, forks, shovels, basins, and all the utensils of the altar. They shall then spread a covering of tahash skin over this, and put the poles in place.	14 and they shall place it with all the vessels which they use in its ministry, that is, receptacles for fire, small hooks as well as forks, larger hooks and shovels. They shall cover all the vessels of the altar together with a veil of violet skins, and they shall draw in the bars.
15 "Only after Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sacred objects and all their utensils on breaking camp, shall the Kohathites enter to carry them. But they shall not touch the sacred objects; if they do they will die. These, then, are the objects in the meeting tent that the Kohathites shall carry.	15 And when Aaron and his sons have wrapped the Sanctuary and its vessels at the dismantling of the camp, then the sons of Kohath shall enter, so as to carry what has been wrapped. And they shall not touch the vessels of the Sanctuary, lest they die. These are the burdens of the sons of Kohath concerning the tabernacle of the covenant.
16 "Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, shall be in charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the established cereal offering, and the anointing oil. He shall be in charge of the whole Dwelling with all the sacred objects and utensils that are in it."	16 Over them shall be Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, to whom belongs the care of the oil to prepare the lamps, and the incense compound, and the sacrifice, which is offered continually, and the oil of unction, and whatever pertains to the service of the tabernacle, and all the vessels that are in the Sanctuary.”
17 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron:	17 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
18 "Do not let the group of Kohathite clans perish from the body of the Levites.	18 “Do not be willing to lose the people of Kohath from the midst of the Levites.
19 That they may live and not die when they approach the most sacred objects, this is what you shall do for them: Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign to each of them his task and what he must carry;	19 But do this for them, so that they may live, and so that they may not die by touching the Holies of holies. Aaron and his sons shall enter, and they shall assign the work of each one, and they shall determine what each one ought to carry.
20 but the Kohathites shall not go in to look upon the sacred objects, even for an instant; if they do, they will die."	20 Let no others, out of curiosity, see the things that are in the Sanctuary before they are wrapped, otherwise they shall die.”
21 The LORD said to Moses,	21 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
22 "Take a total among the Gershonites also, by ancestral houses and clans,	22 “Now also take a total of the sons of Gershon, by their houses and families and kinships,
23 of all the men between thirty and fifty years of age; these are to undertake obligatory tasks in the meeting tent.	23 from thirty years and above, even to fifty years. Number all those who enter and minister in the tabernacle of the covenant.
24 This is the task of the clans of the Gershonites, what they must do and what they must carry:	24 This is the duty of the family of the Gershonites:
25 they shall carry the sheets of the Dwelling, the meeting tent with its covering and the outer wrapping of tahash skin, the curtain at the entrance of the meeting tent,	25 to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the roof of the covenant, the other covering, and the veil over everything, and the violet tent, which hangs at the entrance of the tabernacle of the covenant,
26 the hangings of the court, the curtain at the entrance of the court that encloses both the Dwelling and the altar, together with their ropes and all other objects necessary in their use. Whatever is to be done with these things shall be their task.	26 the curtains of the atrium, and the veil at the entrance, which is before tabernacle. Everything that pertains to the altar, the cords, and the vessels of the ministry
27 The service of the Gershonites shall be entirely under the direction of Aaron and his sons, with regard to what they must do and what they must carry; you shall make each man of them responsible for what he is to carry.	27 the sons of Gershon shall carry, under the orders of Aaron and his sons. And so shall each one know to which burden he ought to surrender.
28 This, then, is the task of the Gershonites in the meeting tent; and they shall be under the supervision of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest.	28 This is the service of the family of the Gershonites, in the tabernacle of the covenant, and they shall be under the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.
29 "Among the Merarites, too, you shall enroll by clans and ancestral houses	29 Likewise, you shall take a census of the sons of Merari, by the families and houses of their fathers,
30 all their men between thirty and fifty years of age; these are to undertake obligatory tasks in the meeting tent.	30 from thirty years and above, even to fifty years, of all who enter to the office of their ministry and to the service of the covenant of the testimony.
31 This is what they shall be responsible for carrying, all the years of their service in the meeting tent: the boards of the Dwelling with its bars, columns and pedestals,	31 These are their burdens: They shall carry the panels of the tabernacle and its bars, the columns and their bases,
32 and the columns of the surrounding court with their pedestals, pegs and ropes. You shall designate for each man of them all the objects connected with his service, which he shall be responsible for carrying.	32 also the columns surrounding the atrium, with their bases and tent pegs and cords. They shall accept by number all the vessels and articles, and so shall they carry them.
33 This, then, is the task of the clans of the Merarites during all their service in the meeting tent under the supervision of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest."	33 This is the office of the family of the Merarites, and their ministry for the tabernacle of the covenant. And they shall be under the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.”
34 So Moses and Aaron and the princes of the community made a registration among the Kohathites, by clans and ancestral houses,	34 Therefore, Moses and Aaron, and the leaders of the assembly, took a census of the sons of Kohath, by the kinships and houses of their fathers,
35 of all the men between thirty and fifty years of age. These were to undertake obligatory tasks in the meeting tent;	35 from thirty years and above, even to the fiftieth year, of all who enter to the ministry of the tabernacle of the covenant.
36 as registered by clans, they numbered two thousand seven hundred and fifty.	36 And there were found two thousand seven hundred fifty.
37 Such was the census of all the men of the Kohathite clans who were to serve in the meeting tent, which Moses took, together with Aaron, as the LORD bade him.	37 This is the number of the people of Kohath, who enter the tabernacle of the covenant. These Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.
38 The registration was then made among the Gershonites, by clans and ancestral houses,	38 The sons of Gershon also were numbered by the kinships and houses of their fathers,
39 of all the men between thirty and fifty years of age. These were to undertake obligatory tasks in the meeting tent;	39 from thirty years and above, even to the fiftieth year, all who enter so as to minister in the tabernacle of the covenant.
40 as registered by clans and ancestral houses, they numbered two thousand six hundred and thirty.	40 And there were found two thousand six hundred thirty.
41 Such was the census of all the men of the Gershonite clans who were to serve in the meeting tent, which Moses took, together with Aaron, at the LORD'S bidding.	41 This is the people of the Gershonites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord.
42 Then the registration was made among the Merarites, by clans and ancestral houses,	42 The sons of Merari also were numbered by the kinships and houses of their fathers,
43 of all the men from thirty up to fifty years of age. These were to undertake obligatory tasks in the meeting tent;	43 from thirty years and above, even to the fiftieth year, all who enter to fulfill the rituals of the tabernacle of the covenant.
44 as registered by clans, they numbered three thousand two hundred.	44 And there were found three thousand two hundred.
45 Such was the census of the men of the Merarite clans which Moses took, together with Aaron, as the LORD bade him.	45 This is the number of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses.
46 Therefore, when Moses and Aaron and the Israelites princes had completed the registration among the Levites, by clans and ancestral houses,	46 All who were counted from the Levites, and whom, by name, Moses and Aaron, and the leaders of Israel, counted by the kinships and houses of their fathers,
47 of all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were to undertake tasks of service or transport of the meeting tent,	47 from thirty years and above, until the fiftieth year, entering for the ministry of the tabernacle and carrying the burdens,
48 the total number registered was eight thousand five hundred and eighty.	48 were together eight thousand five hundred eighty.
49 According to the LORD'S bidding to Moses, they gave them their individual assignments for service and for transport; so the LORD had commanded Moses.	49 Moses took a census of them, according to the word of the Lord, each one according to their office and their burdens, just as the Lord had instructed him.