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Leviticus 16:20-34
Good News Translation
Leviticus 16:20-34
Good News Translation
The Scapegoat
20 When Aaron has finished performing the ritual to purify the Most Holy Place, the rest of the Tent of the Lord's presence, and the altar, he shall present to the Lord the live goat chosen for Azazel.[a] 21 (A)He shall put both of his hands on the goat's head and confess over it all the evils, sins, and rebellions of the people of Israel, and so transfer them to the goat's head. Then the goat is to be driven off into the desert by someone appointed to do it. 22 The goat will carry all their sins away with him into some uninhabited land.
23 (B)Then Aaron shall go into the Tent, take off the priestly garments that he had put on before entering the Most Holy Place, and leave them there. 24 He must take a bath in a holy place and put on his own clothes. After that, he shall go out and offer the burnt offering to remove his own sins and those of the people. 25 He shall burn on the altar the fat of the animal for the sin offering. 26 The man who drove the goat into the desert to Azazel must wash his clothes and take a bath before he comes back into camp. 27 (C)The bull and the goat used for the sin offering, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to take away sin, shall be carried outside the camp and burned. Skin, meat, and intestines shall all be burned. 28 The one who burns them must wash his clothes and take a bath before he returns to camp.
Observing the Day of Atonement
29 (D)The following regulations are to be observed for all time to come. On the tenth day of the seventh month the Israelites and the foreigners living among them must fast and must not do any work. 30 On that day the ritual is to be performed to purify them from all their sins, so that they will be ritually clean. 31 That day is to be a very holy day, one on which they fast and do no work at all. These regulations are to be observed for all time to come. 32 The High Priest, properly ordained and consecrated to succeed his father, is to perform the ritual of purification. He shall put on the priestly garments 33 and perform the ritual to purify the Most Holy Place, the rest of the Tent of the Lord's presence, the altar, the priests, and all the people of the community. 34 These regulations are to be observed for all time to come. This ritual must be performed once a year to purify the people of Israel from all their sins.
So Moses[b] did as the Lord had commanded.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Leviticus 16:20 See 16.8.
- Leviticus 16:34 Moses; or Aaron.
Leviticus 16:20-34
New International Version
Leviticus 16:20-34
New International Version
20 “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat.(A) 21 He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat(B) and confess(C) over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. 22 The goat will carry on itself all their sins(D) to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.
23 “Then Aaron is to go into the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments(E) he put on before he entered the Most Holy Place, and he is to leave them there.(F) 24 He shall bathe himself with water in the sanctuary area(G) and put on his regular garments.(H) Then he shall come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself and the burnt offering for the people,(I) to make atonement for himself and for the people.(J) 25 He shall also burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar.
26 “The man who releases the goat as a scapegoat(K) must wash his clothes(L) and bathe himself with water;(M) 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;(N) 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.(O)
29 “This is to be a lasting ordinance(P) for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month(Q) you must deny yourselves[a](R) and not do any work(S)—whether native-born(T) or a foreigner residing among you— 30 because on this day atonement will be made(U) for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.(V) 31 It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves;(W) it is a lasting ordinance.(X) 32 The priest who is anointed and ordained(Y) to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments(Z) 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.(AA)
34 “This is to be a lasting ordinance(AB) for you: Atonement is to be made once a year(AC) for all the sins of the Israelites.”
And it was done, as the Lord commanded Moses.
Footnotes
- Leviticus 16:29 Or must fast; also in verse 31
Good News Translation (GNT) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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