Exodus 30:1-10

1Use acacia wood to make an altar so that you can burn incense on it.

2The altar must be square. Make it 45 centimetres long, 45 centimetres wide and 90 centimetres high. The altar's horns must be part of it, made from one piece of wood.

3Cover all the altar with gold: its top, its sides and the horns. Build up an edge of gold around the four sides.

4Make two gold rings for the altar. Fix them below the gold edge on two opposite sides. They will hold the poles for you to carry the altar.

5Use acacia wood to make the poles. Cover them with gold.

6Put the altar for incense in the Holy Place in the tabernacle. Put it in front of the curtain that hides the Covenant Box. It will be near the special lid that covers the Covenant Box. That is the place where I will meet with you.

7Every morning, Aaron must burn sweet incense on this altar. He must do this when he goes in to take care of the lamps.

8He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps in the evening. Incense must burn there as an offering to the Lord every day from now on.

9Only offer proper incense on this altar. Do not offer any burnt offerings or grain offerings on it. And do not pour any drink offerings on it.

10Once every year, Aaron must make the altar clean and pure. He must put some of the blood from the sin offering on the horns of the altar. A priest must do this every year from now on. The altar is holy because it belongs to me, the Lord.’