¹¹ As for the consecrated priests, the descendants^[a] of Zadok who kept my charge, who did not go astray when the people of Israel went astray, as the Levites did,^(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)

⁴⁶ and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar; these are the descendants of Zadok, who alone among the descendants of Levi may come near to the Lord to minister to him.”^(A)

The Faithful or the Unfaithful Slave

⁴⁵ “Who, then, is the faithful and wise slave whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves^[a] their allowance of food at the proper time?^{(A) 46} Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives.^(B)

¹⁰ Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.^(A)

⁴ And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away.^(A)

⁷ I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.^{(A) 8} From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.^(B)

The Levitical Priests

¹⁵ “But the Levitical priests, the descendants of Zadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, shall come near to me to minister to me, and they shall attend me to offer me the fat and the blood, says the Lord God.^{(A) 16} It is they who shall enter my sanctuary; it is they who shall approach my table to minister to me, and they shall keep my charge.

¹⁹ you shall give to the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok, who draw near to me to minister to me, says the Lord God, a bull of the herd for a purification offering.^(A)