Rules for Priests

21 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron,^(A) and say to them: ‘A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean^(B) for any of his people who die,^{(C) 2} except for a close relative, such as his mother or father,^(D) his son or daughter, his brother, ³ or an unmarried sister who is dependent on him since she has no husband—for her he may make himself unclean.^{(E) 4} He must not make himself unclean for people related to him by marriage,^[a] and so defile himself.

⁵ “‘Priests must not shave^(F) their heads or shave off the edges of their beards^(G) or cut their bodies.^{(H) 6} They must be holy to their God^(I) and must not profane the name of their God.^(J) Because they present the food offerings to the Lord,^(K) the food of their God,^(L) they are to be holy.^(M)

¹⁰ “‘The high priest, the one among his brothers who has had the anointing oil poured on his head^(A) and who has been ordained to wear the priestly garments,^(B) must not let his hair become unkempt^[a] or tear his clothes.^{(C) 11} He must not enter a place where there is a dead body.^(D) He must not make himself unclean,^(E) even for his father or mother,^{(F) 12} nor leave the sanctuary^(G) of his God or desecrate it, because he has been dedicated by the anointing oil^(H) of his God. I am the Lord.