Numbers 8:14-19

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

¹⁴ And shalt separate them from the midst of the children of Israel, to be mine.

¹⁵ And afterwards they shall enter into the tabernacle of the covenant, to serve me. And thus shalt thou purify and consecrate them for an oblation of the Lord: for as a gift they were given me by the children of Israel.

¹⁶ I have taken them instead of the firstborn that open every womb in Israel,

¹⁷ For all the firstborn of the children of Israel, both of men and of beasts, are mine. From the day that I slew every firstborn in the land of Egypt, have I sanctified them to myself:

¹⁸ And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel:

¹⁹ And have delivered them for a gift to Aaron and his sons out of the midst of the people, to serve me for Israel in the tabernacle of the covenant, and to pray for them, lest there should be a plague among the people, if they should presume to approach unto my sanctuary.