The Prince, The Levites, And The Priests Described

1 Then he brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which looks toward the east; and it was shut.

1 Then He brought me back by the way of the (A)outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces the east; and it was shut.

1 Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut.

1 The man then brought me back toward the sanctuary’s outer gate that faced east, and it was closed.

1 Then the Lord GOD brought me back through the east-facing outer gate of the sanctuary. But it was shut.

2 The LORD said to me, "This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, neither shall any man enter in by it; for the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered in by it; therefore it shall be shut.

2 The Lord said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the (B)Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.

2 Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.

2 The Lord said to me: “This gate will remain closed. It will not be opened, and no one will enter through it, because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it.(A) Therefore it will remain closed.

2 The LORD told me, "This gate is to remain shut. It will not be opened. No man is to enter through it, because the LORD God of Israel entered through it, so it is to remain shut.

3 As for the prince, he shall sit therein as prince to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of the gate, and shall go out by the way of the same."

3 As for the (C)prince, he shall sit in it as prince to (D)eat bread before the Lord; he shall (E)enter by way of the (F)porch of the gate and shall go out (a)by the same way.”

3 It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.

3 The prince himself will sit in the gateway to eat a meal before the Lord.(B) He must enter by way of the portico(C) of the gate and go out the same way.”

3 The Regent Prince will be seated there, as Regent Prince, and will dine in the LORD's presence, entering through the portico of the gate and exiting through it also."

Rules For Admission To The Temple

4 Then he brought me by the way of the north gate before the house; and I looked, and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD: and I fell on my face.

4 Then He brought me by way of the (G)north gate to the front of the house; and I looked, and behold, the (H)glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord, and I (I)fell on my face.

4 Then brought he me the way of the north gate before the house: and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD: and I fell upon my face.

4 Then the man brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple. I looked, and the glory of the Lord filled His temple.(D) And I fell facedown.(E)

4 Then he brought me through the north-facing gate to the front of the Temple. As I looked, the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's Temple, and I fell flat on my face!

The People Serving In The New Temple

5 The LORD said to me, "Son of man, mark well, and see with your eyes, and hear with your ears all that I tell you concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all its laws; and mark well the entrance of the house, with every exit of the sanctuary.

5 The Lord said to me, “Son of man, (b)(J)mark well, see with your eyes and hear with your ears all that I say to you concerning all the (K)statutes of the house of the Lord and concerning all its laws; and (c)mark well the entrance of the house, with all exits of the sanctuary.

5 And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary.

5 The Lord said to me: “Son of man, pay attention;(F) look with your eyes and listen with your ears to everything I tell you about all the statutes and laws of the Lord’s temple.(G) Take careful note of the entrance of the temple along with all the exits of the sanctuary.

5 Then the LORD told me, "Son of Man, watch carefully, listen closely, and remember everything I'm going to be telling you about all the statutes pertaining to the LORD's Temple and all of its laws. Pay careful attention to the entrance to the Temple, along with all of the exits from the sanctuary."

The Levites' Duties And Privileges

6 You shall tell the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: you house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,

6 You shall say to the (d)(L)rebellious ones, to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord (e)God, “(M)Enough of all your abominations, O house of Israel,

6 And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,

6 “Say to the rebellious people,(H) the house of Israel: This is what the Lord God says: I have had enough(I) of all your detestable practices, house of Israel.

6 "You are to tell the Resistance that is, the house of Israel, "This is what the Lord GOD says: "I've had enough of all of your loathsome behavior, you house of Israel!

7 in that you have brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to profane it, even my house, when you offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and you have broken my covenant, to add to all your abominations.

7 when you brought in (N)foreigners, (O)uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary to profane it, even My house, when you (P)offered My food, the fat and the blood; for they (Q)made My covenant void—this in addition to all your abominations.

7 In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.

7 When you brought in foreigners,(J) uncircumcised in both heart and flesh,(K) to occupy My sanctuary, you defiled My temple while you offered My food—the fat and the blood. You(a) broke My covenant by all your detestable practices.

7 You kept on bringing in foreigners, those who were uncircumcised in heart and flesh, to profane my sanctuary by being inside my Temple, and by doing so you've emptied my covenant, all the while offering my food the fat and the blood in addition to all of the other loathsome things you've done.

8 You have not performed the duty of my holy things; but you have set performers of my duty in my sanctuary for yourselves.'

8 And you have not (R)kept charge of My holy things yourselves, but you have set foreigners (f)to keep charge of My sanctuary.”

8 And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.

8 You have not kept charge of My holy things(L) but have appointed others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you.

8 Furthermore, you haven't paid attention to the requirements for my holy things. Instead, you placed foreigners in charge of my sanctuary."'

9 "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any foreigners who are among the children of Israel.

9 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “(S)No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the sons of Israel, shall enter My sanctuary.

9 Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.

9 “This is what the Lord God says: No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, may enter My sanctuary, not even a foreigner who is among the Israelites.

9 "This is what the Lord GOD says, "No foreigner who is both uncircumcised in heart and flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the Israelis is to enter my sanctuary.

The Levites Are Excluded From The Priesthood

10 But the Levites who went far from me, when Israel went astray, who went astray from me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.

10 But the Levites who went far from Me when Israel went astray, who (T)went astray from Me after their idols, shall (U)bear the punishment for their iniquity.

10 And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.

10 Surely the Levites who wandered away from Me when Israel went astray, and who strayed from Me after their idols,(M) will bear the consequences of their sin.(N)

10 But the descendants of Levi, who went far away from me when Israel abandoned me, who left me to follow their idols, are to bear the punishment of their iniquity.

11 Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the house, and ministering in the house: they shall kill the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister to them.

11 Yet they shall be (V)ministers in My sanctuary, having (W)oversight at the gates of the house and (X)ministering in the house; they shall (Y)slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall (Z)stand before them to minister to them.

11 Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.

11 Yet they will occupy My sanctuary, serving as guards at the temple gates(O) and ministering at the temple. They will slaughter the burnt offerings(P) and other sacrifices for the people and will stand before them to serve them.(Q)

11 Nevertheless, they are to serve in my sanctuary, overseeing the gates of the Temple, taking care of the Temple, slaughtering the burnt offerings and the sacrifices presented for the people, standing in the presence of the people, and ministering to them.

12 Because they ministered to them before their idols, and became a stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel; therefore have I lifted up my hand against them, says the Lord GOD, and they shall bear their iniquity.

12 Because they ministered to them (AA)before their idols and became a (AB)stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel, therefore I have (g)(AC)sworn against them,” declares the Lord God, “that they shall (AD)bear the punishment for their iniquity.

12 Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith the Lord GOD, and they shall bear their iniquity.

12 Because they ministered to the house of Israel before their idols and became a sinful stumbling block to them, therefore I swore an oath(b) against them”(R)—this is the declaration of the Lord God—“that they would bear the consequences of their sin.

12 Because they kept serving them in the presence of their idols, becoming a sin-filled stumbling block to the house of Israel,' declares the Lord GOD.

13 They shall not come near to me, to execute the office of priest to me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, to the things that are most holy; but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.

13 And they shall (AE)not come near to Me to serve as a priest to Me, nor come near to any of My holy things, to the things that are most holy; but they will (AF)bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed.

13 And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.

13 They must not approach Me to serve Me as priests(S) or come near any of My holy things or the most holy things. They will bear their disgrace and the consequences of the detestable acts they committed.

13 ""I have sworn to them that they are to bear the consequences of their iniquity. They are not to come near me to serve me as a priest, nor approach any of my holy things, including the most holy things. Instead, they are to bear the shame of the loathsome things that they have done.

14 Yet will I make them performers of the duty of the house, for all its service, and for all that shall be done therein.

14 Yet I will (h)appoint them (i)to (AG)keep charge of the house, of all its service and of all that shall be done in it.

14 But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.

14 Yet I will make them responsible for the duties of the temple(T)—for all its work and everything done in it.

14 Nevertheless, I will appoint them to take care of my Temple, including all of its service and everything that is to be done inside of it.'"

The Priests' Duties And Privileges

15 "'But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who performed the duty of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister to me; and they shall stand before me to offer to me the fat and the blood, says the Lord GOD:

15 “But the (AH)Levitical priests, the sons of (AI)Zadok, who (AJ)kept charge of My sanctuary when the sons of Israel (AK)went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to minister to Me; and they shall (AL)stand before Me to offer Me the (AM)fat and the blood,” declares the Lord God.

15 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:

15 “But the Levitical priests descended from Zadok,(U) who kept charge of My sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from Me, will approach Me to serve Me. They will stand before Me to offer Me fat and blood.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.

15 "The descendants of Zadok, Levitical priests who took care of my sanctuary when the Israelis wandered away from me, are to come near me to minister to me. They are to stand before me to offer the fat and the blood to me," declares the Lord GOD.

16 they shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister to me, and they shall keep my instruction.

16 “They shall (AN)enter My sanctuary; they shall come near to My (AO)table to minister to Me and keep My charge.

16 They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.

16 “They are the ones who may enter My sanctuary(V) and draw near to My table to serve Me.(W) They will keep My mandate.

16 "They are to enter my sanctuary, approach my table to minister to me, and carry out my requirements.

17 "'It shall be that, when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come on them, while they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.

17 It shall be that when they enter at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with (AP)linen garments; and wool shall not (j)be on them while they are ministering in the gates of the inner court and in the house.

17 And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.

17 When they enter the gates of the inner court they must wear linen garments;(X) they must not have on them anything made of wool when they minister at the gates of the inner court and within it.

17 Whenever they enter at the gates of the inner court, they are to be clothed with linen garments. They are not to wear wool when they are ministering within the gates of the inner courtyard or in the Temple.

18 They shall have linen turbans on their heads, and shall have linen breeches on their waists; they shall not clothe themselves with anything that causes sweat.

18 Linen (AQ)turbans shall be on their heads and (AR)linen undergarments shall be on their loins; they shall not gird themselves with anything which makes them sweat.

18 They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.

18 They must wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists.(Y) They are not to put on anything that makes them sweat.

18 Linen turbans are to be on their heads, and they are to wear linen undergarments. Also, they are not to clothe themselves with anything that makes them perspire.

19 When they go forth into the outer court, even into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments in which they minister, and lay them in the holy rooms; and they shall put on other garments, that they not sanctify the people with their garments.

19 When they go out into the outer court, into the outer court to the people, they shall (AS)put off their garments in which they have been ministering and lay them in the holy chambers; then they shall put on other garments so that they will (AT)not transmit holiness to the people with their garments.

19 And when they go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments.

19 Before they go out to the outer court,(c) to the people, they must take off the clothes they have been ministering in, leave them in the holy chambers, and dress in other clothes(Z) so that they do not transmit holiness to the people through their clothes.(AA)

19 "When they enter the outer courtyard, that is, the outer courtyard where the people are, they are to take off their garments in which they were ministering, lay them in the consecrated chambers, and put on different garments so they will not transfer holiness to the people through their garments.

20 "'Neither shall they shave their heads, nor allow their locks to grow long; they shall only cut off the hair of their heads.

20 Also they shall (AU)not shave their heads, yet they shall not (AV)let their locks (k)grow long; they shall only trim the hair of their heads.

20 Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads.

20 “They may not shave their heads(AB) or let their hair grow long,(AC) but must carefully trim their hair.

20 Also, they are not to shave their heads nor let their hair grow long. Instead, they are certainly to trim the hair on their heads.

21 Neither shall any of the priests drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.

21 (AW)Nor shall any of the priests drink wine when they enter the inner court.

21 Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.

21 No priest may drink wine before he enters the inner court.(AD)

21 None of the priests are to drink wine after entering the inner courtyard.

22 Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her who is put away; but they shall take virgins of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow who is the widow of a priest.

22 And they shall not (l)marry a widow or a (AX)divorced woman but shall (AY)take virgins from the offspring of the house of Israel, or a widow who is the widow of a priest.

22 Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before.

22 He is not to marry a widow or a divorced woman, but must marry a virgin from the offspring of the house of Israel,(AE) or a widow who is the widow of a priest.

22 They are not to marry a widow or a divorced woman. Instead, they are to marry virgins from the descendants of the house of Israel, or a widow who is the widow of a priest."

23 They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

23 Moreover, they shall teach My people the (AZ)difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

23 They must teach My people the difference between the holy and the common, and explain to them the difference between the clean and the unclean.(AF)

23 "They are to teach my people how to discern what is holy in contrast to what is common, showing them how to discern between what is unclean and clean.

24 "'In a controversy they shall stand to judge; according to my ordinances shall they judge it: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all my appointed feasts; and they shall make my Sabbaths holy.

24 In a dispute (BA)they shall take their stand to judge; they shall judge it according to My ordinances. They shall also keep My laws and My statutes in all My (BB)appointed feasts and (BC)sanctify My sabbaths.

24 And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.

24 “In a dispute, they will officiate as judges and decide the case according to My ordinances.(AG) They must observe My laws and statutes regarding all My appointed festivals, and keep My Sabbaths holy.(AH)

24 When disputes arise, they are to serve as a judge, adjudicating matters according to my ordinances. They are to enforce my laws, my statutes, all of my appointed festivals, and they are to sanctify my Sabbaths.

25 "'They shall go in to no dead person to defile themselves; but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister who has had no husband, they may defile themselves.

25 (m)(BD)They shall not go to a dead person to defile themselves; however, for father, for mother, for son, for daughter, for brother, or for a sister who has not had a husband, they may defile themselves.

25 And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.

25 A priest may not come near a dead person so that he becomes defiled.(AI) However, he may defile himself for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister.

25 They are not to come in contact with a dead body, so they don't defile themselves, except in the case of their father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or for an unmarried sister, on whose behalf they may defile themselves.

26 After he is cleansed, they shall reckon to him seven days.

26 After he is (BE)cleansed, seven days shall (n)elapse for him.

26 And after he is cleansed, they shall reckon unto him seven days.

26 After he is cleansed, he is to count off seven days for himself.(AJ)

26 After he is cleansed from that contact, he is to not to minister for seven days.

27 In the day that he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, says the Lord GOD.

27 On the day that he goes into the sanctuary, into the (BF)inner court to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his (BG)sin offering,” declares the Lord God.

27 And in the day that he goeth into the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, saith the Lord GOD.

27 On the day he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner court(AK) to minister in the sanctuary, he must present his sin offering.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.

27 On the day that he returns to the sanctuary's inner court to minister, he is to offer his own sin offering," declares the Lord GOD.

28 "'They shall have an inheritance: I am their inheritance; and you shall give them no possession in Israel; I am their possession.

28 “And it shall be with regard to an inheritance for them, that (BH)I am their inheritance; and you shall give them no possession in Israel—I am their possession.

28 And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.

28 “This will be their inheritance: I am their inheritance.(AL) You are to give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.

28 "Now with respect to the priests' inheritances, I am to be their inheritance, and you are to give them no possession in Israel, since I am their possession.

29 They shall eat the meal offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every devoted thing in Israel shall be theirs.

29 They shall (BI)eat the grain offering, the sin offering and the guilt offering; and every (o)(BJ)devoted thing in Israel shall be theirs.

29 They shall eat the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.

29 They will eat the grain offering, the sin offering,(AM) and the restitution offering. Everything in Israel that is permanently dedicated to the Lord will belong to them.(AN)

29 They are to eat the grain offerings, sin offering, and guilt offering. Everything consecrated in Israel is to belong to them.

30 The first of all the first fruits of every thing, and every offering of everything, of all your offerings, shall be for the priest: you shall also give to the priests the first of your dough, to cause a blessing to rest on your house.

30 The first of all the (BK)first fruits of every kind and every (p)contribution of every kind, from all your (q)contributions, shall be for the priests; you shall also give to the priest the (BL)first of your (r)dough to cause a (BM)blessing to rest on your house.

30 And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest's: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house.

30 The best of all the firstfruits of every kind and contribution of every kind from all your gifts will belong to the priests.(AO) You are to give your first batch of dough to the priest(AP) so that a blessing may rest on your homes.(AQ)

30 The first portion of all the first fruits of every kind and every offering of any kind is to be for the priests. You are to give the priest the first portion of your grain. As a result a blessing will rest on your household.

31 The priests shall not eat of anything that dies of itself, or is torn, whether it be bird or animal.

31 The priests shall not eat any bird or beast that has (BN)died a natural death or has been torn to pieces.

31 The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.

31 The priests may not eat any bird or animal that died naturally or was mauled by wild beasts.(AR)

31 However, the priests are not to eat any bird or animal that has died a natural death or that has been torn apart."

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