Exodus 40 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Then Yahweh told Moses,

"On the first day of the first month, set up the residence — the meeting tent."

"Place the chest holding the agreement inside it, and hang the curtain to screen off the chest."

"Bring in the table and arrange what goes on it. Bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps."

"Set the gold incense altar in front of the chest holding the agreement, and hang the screen at the entrance to the residence."

"Set the altar for burned offerings in front of the entrance to the residence — the meeting tent."

"Place the washing basin between the meeting tent and the altar, and fill it with water."

"Set up the courtyard all around it and hang the screen at the courtyard entrance."

"Then take the anointing oil and anoint the residence and everything in it. Set it apart — it and all its equipment — and it will be sacred."

"Anoint the altar for burned offerings and all its utensils. Set the altar apart, and it will be an altar that is most sacred."

"Anoint the washing basin and its stand, and set it apart."

"Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the meeting tent and wash them with water."

"Dress Aaron in the sacred clothing, anoint him, and set him apart so he can serve me as priest."

"Bring his sons forward and dress them in tunics."

"Anoint them just like you anointed their father, so they can serve me as priests. Their anointing marks them for a permanent priesthood throughout every generation."

Moses did everything. He did exactly what Yahweh had commanded him — that's what he did.

On the first day of the first month, in the second year, the residence was set up.

Moses set up the residence: he put the bases in place, set up the frames, inserted the crossbars, and raised the posts.

He spread the tent covering over the residence and placed the outer covering on top of it, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

He took the agreement and placed it in the chest, attached the poles to the chest, and set the mercy seat on top of it.

He brought the chest into the residence and hung the screening curtain to shield the chest holding the agreement, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

He placed the table inside the meeting tent, on the north side of the residence, outside the curtain.

He arranged the bread on it in Yahweh's presence, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

He set the lampstand inside the meeting tent, opposite the table, on the south side of the residence.

He lit the lamps in Yahweh's presence, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

He placed the gold altar inside the meeting tent, in front of the curtain.

He burned fragrant incense on it, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

He hung the screen at the entrance to the residence.

He set the altar for burned offerings at the entrance to the residence — the meeting tent — and offered the burned offering and the grain offering on it, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

He placed the washing basin between the meeting tent and the altar and filled it with water for washing.

Moses, Aaron, and his sons used it to wash their hands and feet.

Whenever they entered the meeting tent or approached the altar, they washed — just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

He set up the courtyard around the residence and the altar, and hung the screen at the courtyard entrance. And so Moses finished the work.

Then the cloud covered the meeting tent, and Yahweh's glorious presence filled the residence.

Moses wasn't able to enter the meeting tent because the cloud had settled on it and Yahweh's glorious presence filled the residence.

Whenever the cloud lifted from above the residence, the Israelites would set out on their journey.

But if the cloud didn't lift, they wouldn't set out — they'd wait until the day it lifted.

Because Yahweh's cloud rested over the residence during the day, and fire was inside it at night, visible to the entire nation of Israel throughout all their travels.