Exodus 28:9-21

9Take two onyx stones and write on them with a sharp tool. Write the names of the sons of Israel.

10Begin with the name of the oldest son and finish with the name of the youngest son. Write six names on one stone and six names on the other stone.

11A worker who has skill to cut letters into metal must do this work. Then fix the stones into beautiful gold around their edges.

12Fix the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod so that they show the names of the 12 sons of Israel. Aaron will carry the names on his shoulders as he serves the Lord. Then the Lord will remember to bless his people.

13Use gold to make beautiful pieces to hold the stones.

14And use pure gold to make two thin chains, like strings. Fix these chains to the gold pieces that hold the onyx stones.

15A worker must use special skills to make a breastpiece so that it looks beautiful. The breastpiece will help the priest to know what God is saying. Make it like the ephod. Use gold, blue, purple and red material, and good linen to make it.

16Bend a piece of cloth over to make a square pocket, 22 centimetres long and 22 centimetres wide.

17Then fix four rows of jewels on it. These are the names of the jewels: a ruby, a topaz and a beryl in the first row;

18a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald in the second row;

19a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst in the third row;

20a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper in the fourth row. Fix each jewel into beautiful gold around its edges.

21There will be 12 jewels, one jewel for each of Israel's sons. You must carefully write one tribe's name on each jewel with a sharp tool.