Leviticus 16:26-18:5

New International Version

²⁶ “The man who releases the goat as a scapegoat^(A) must wash his clothes^(B) and bathe himself with water;^(C) afterward he may come into the camp. ²⁷ The bull and the goat for the sin offerings, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to make atonement, must be taken outside the camp;^(D) their hides, flesh and intestines are to be burned up. ²⁸ The man who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp.^(E)

²⁹ “This is to be a lasting ordinance^(F) for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month^(G) you must deny yourselves^[a](H) and not do any work^(I)—whether native-born^(J) or a foreigner residing among you— ³⁰ because on this day atonement will be made^(K) for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.^{(L) 31} It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves;^(M) it is a lasting ordinance.^{(N) 32} The priest who is anointed and ordained^(O) to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments^{(P) 33} and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the tent of meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the members of the community.^(Q)

³⁴ “This is to be a lasting ordinance^(R) for you: Atonement is to be made once a year^(S) for all the sins of the Israelites.”

And it was done, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Eating Blood Forbidden

17 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to Aaron and his sons^(T) and to all the Israelites and say to them: ‘This is what the Lord has commanded: ³ Any Israelite who sacrifices an ox,^[b] a lamb^(U) or a goat^(V) in the camp or outside of it ⁴ instead of bringing it to the entrance to the tent of meeting^(W) to present it as an offering to the Lord in front of the tabernacle of the Lord^(X)—that person shall be considered guilty of bloodshed; they have shed blood and must be cut off from their people.^{(Y) 5} This is so the Israelites will bring to the Lord the sacrifices they are now making in the open fields. They must bring them to the priest, that is, to the Lord, at the entrance to the tent of meeting and sacrifice them as fellowship offerings.^{(Z) 6} The priest is to splash the blood against the altar^(AA) of the Lord^(AB) at the entrance to the tent of meeting and burn the fat as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^{(AC) 7} They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols^[c](AD) to whom they prostitute themselves.^(AE) This is to be a lasting ordinance^(AF) for them and for the generations to come.’^(AG)

⁸ “Say to them: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice ⁹ and does not bring it to the entrance to the tent^(AH) of meeting^(AI) to sacrifice it to the Lord^(AJ) must be cut off from the people of Israel.

¹⁰ “‘I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood,^(AK) and I will cut them off from the people. ¹¹ For the life of a creature is in the blood,^(AL) and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.^{[d](AM) 12} Therefore I say to the Israelites, “None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.”

¹³ “‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth,^{(AN) 14} because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, “You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off.”^(AO)

¹⁵ “‘Anyone, whether native-born or foreigner, who eats anything^(AP) found dead or torn by wild animals^(AQ) must wash their clothes and bathe with water,^(AR) and they will be ceremonially unclean till evening;^(AS) then they will be clean. ¹⁶ But if they do not wash their clothes and bathe themselves, they will be held responsible.^(AT)’”

Unlawful Sexual Relations

18 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God.^{(AU) 3} You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices.^{(AV) 4} You must obey my laws^(AW) and be careful to follow my decrees.^(AX) I am the Lord your God.^{(AY) 5} Keep my decrees and laws,^(AZ) for the person who obeys them will live by them.^(BA) I am the Lord.