⁹ The priests of the high places, however, did not come up to the altar of the Lord in Jerusalem but ate unleavened bread among their kindred.^(A)

¹⁰ But the Levites who went far from me, going astray from me after their idols when Israel went astray, shall bear their punishment.^{(A) 11} They shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the temple and serving in the temple; they shall slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall attend on them and serve them.^{(B) 12} Because they ministered to them before their idols and made the house of Israel stumble into iniquity, therefore I have sworn concerning them, says the Lord God, that they shall bear their punishment.^{(C) 13} They shall not come near to me, to serve me as priest, nor come near any of my sacred offerings, the things that are most sacred, but they shall bear their shame and the consequences of the abominations that they have committed.^{(D) 14} Yet I will appoint them to keep charge of the temple, to do all its chores, all that is to be done in it.^(E)

⁸ But you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts,^{(A) 9} so I make you despised and humbled before all the people, inasmuch as you have not kept my ways but have shown partiality in your instruction.^(B)

²⁹ They shall eat the grain offering, the purification offering, and the guilt offering, and every devoted thing in Israel shall be theirs.^{(A) 30} The first of all the first fruits of all kinds and every offering of all kinds from all your offerings shall belong to the priests; you shall also give to the priests the first of your dough, in order that a blessing may rest on your house.^{(B) 31} The priests shall not eat of anything, whether bird or animal, that died of itself or was torn by animals.^(C)

³⁶ Everyone who is left in your family shall come and prostrate himself before him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and shall say, ‘Please put me in one of the priest’s places, that I may eat a morsel of bread.’ ”^(A)