¹⁶ If the person said to him, “Let the fat^(A) be burned first, and then take whatever you want,” the servant would answer, “No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force.”

²³ “Say to the Israelites: ‘Do not eat any of the fat of cattle, sheep or goats.^{(A) 24} The fat of an animal found dead or torn by wild animals^(B) may be used for any other purpose, but you must not eat it. ²⁵ Anyone who eats the fat of an animal from which a food offering may be^[a] presented to the Lord must be cut off from their people.

¹⁶ The priest shall burn them on the altar^(A) as a food offering,^(B) a pleasing aroma.^(C) All the fat^(D) is the Lord’s.^(E)

² Be shepherds of God’s flock^(A) that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;^(B) not pursuing dishonest gain,^(C) but eager to serve; ³ not lording it over^(D) those entrusted to you, but being examples^(E) to the flock.

⁵ This is what the Lord says:

Human Plans and God’s Plans

¹⁵ But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels^[a] of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God^(A) I did not act like that.

²⁵ The Danites answered, “Don’t argue with us, or some of the men may get angry and attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.”