1[The LORD continued,] "Out of all the Israelites, bring your brother Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar to you. They will serve me as priests. 2Make holy clothes for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. 3"Tell all those who have the skill-those to whom I have given this ability-to make Aaron's clothes. These clothes will set him apart as holy when he serves me as priest. 4These are the clothes they will make: a breastplate, an ephod and the robe that is worn with it, another specially woven linen robe, the chief priest's turban, and a cloth belt. They will make these holy clothes for your brother Aaron and his sons so that they can serve me as priests. 5They must use gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn, and fine linen.

6"Make the ephod out of fine linen yarn. Creatively work gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn into the fabric. 7It will have two shoulder straps attached at the [top] corners so that it can be fastened. 8Make the belt that is attached to the ephod out of the same fabric. 9Take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel 10in birth order-six of their names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. 11Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the same way a jeweler engraves a signet ring. Mount them in gold settings, 12and fasten them on the shoulder straps of the ephod as reminders of who the Israelites are. In this way Aaron will carry their names on his shoulders as a reminder in the LORD's presence. 13Make gold settings 14and two chains of pure gold, twisted like ropes, and fasten these chains to the settings.

15"Make the breastplate for decision-making as creatively as you make the ephod. Make it out of gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn and out of fine linen yarn. 16Fold it in half so that it's 9 inches square. 17Fasten four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row put red quartz, topaz, and emerald. 18In the second row put turquoise, sapphire, and crystal. 19In the third row put jacinth, agate, and amethyst. 20In the fourth row put beryl, onyx, and gray quartz. Mount them in gold settings. 21The stones correspond to the 12 sons of Israel, by name, each stone engraved (like a signet ring) with the name of one of the 12 tribes. 22"For the breastplate make chains out of pure gold, twisted like ropes. 23Make two gold rings for the breastplate. Attach them to the two [top] corners of the breastplate. 24Then fasten the two gold ropes to the rings at the [top] corners of the breastplate. 25Fasten the other ends of the ropes to the two settings on the shoulder straps of the ephod [so that the breastplate hangs] in front of it. 26Make two gold rings, and fasten them to the other two corners of the breastplate on the inside edge next to the ephod. 27Make two [more] gold rings, and fasten them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the ephod. This will be close to the seam just above the belt of the ephod. 28Then the breastplate should be fastened by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a violet cord. This will attach it just above the belt of the ephod and will hold the breastplate in place. 29"Whenever Aaron goes into the holy place, he will be carrying the names of the sons of Israel over his heart as a constant reminder in the LORD's presence. He must do this by wearing the breastplate for decision-making. 30Put the Urim and Thummim into the breastplate for decision-making. They, too, will be over Aaron's heart when he comes into the LORD's presence. In this way whenever he's in the LORD's presence, Aaron will always be carrying over his heart the [means for determining the LORD's] decisions for the Israelites.

31"Make the robe that is worn with the ephod entirely of violet material. 32Make an opening for the head in the center with a reinforced edge (like a leather collar) all around it to keep it from tearing. 33All around the hem of the robe make pomegranates of violet, purple, and bright red yarn with gold bells in between- 34a gold bell alternating with a pomegranate all around the hem of the robe. 35Aaron must wear it when he serves as priest. The sound of the bells must be heard when he comes into and goes out of the LORD's presence in the holy place so that he won't die.

36"Make a flower-shaped medallion out of pure gold, and engrave on it (as on a signet ring): Holy to the LORD. 37Fasten a violet cord to it, and tie it so that it's on the front of the turban. 38It will be on Aaron's forehead. He's the one to be blamed for anything done wrong when the Israelites bring their holy offerings-whatever their gifts may be. The medallion must always be on Aaron's forehead so that the LORD will accept their offerings.

39"Make the specially woven inner robe of fine linen. Make the turban of fine linen, but the belt should be embroidered with colored yarn.

40"Also make linen robes, belts, and turbans for Aaron's sons. These clothes will give them dignity and honor. 41Put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint them, ordain them, and set them apart to serve me as priests. 42"Make linen undergarments to cover them down to their thighs. 43Aaron and his sons must wear them when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to serve as priests in the holy place. Then they will be blameless and won't die. "This is a permanent law for him and his descendants."