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Ezekiel 44:15-31
Common English Bible
Ezekiel 44:15-31
Common English Bible
15 As for the priests of the levitical family of Zadok who did keep charge of my sanctuary when the Israelites strayed away from me, they will draw near to me to serve me. They will stand in my presence to present fat and blood to me. This is what the Lord God says. 16 They will come into my sanctuary, and they will approach my table to minister to me. They will keep my charge. 17 When they come through the gates to the inner courtyard, they will wear linen garments. They won’t wear any wool when they minister at the gates of the inner courtyard or in the temple. 18 They will have linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists. They won’t wear anything that makes them sweat. 19 When they go out to the outer courtyard to the people, they will remove the garments in which they were ministering. They will lay them aside in the holy chambers and wear other clothing. They must not transfer holiness to the people through their clothing. 20 They must neither shave their heads nor let their hair grow long, but they will trim the hair on their heads. 21 None of the priests should drink wine when they come into the inner courtyard. 22 They must not marry widows or divorced women, but only Israelite virgins. Priests may, however, marry the widows of other priests. 23 They must teach my people the difference between the holy and the ordinary, and show them the difference between clean and unclean. 24 They must execute judgments according to my case laws in cases of civil conflict. They must observe my instructions and my regulations regarding all my festivals. They must keep my sabbaths holy. 25 In order to avoid uncleanness, they must not approach the dead. They may, however, become unclean for their father or mother, son or daughter, brother or unmarried sister. 26 Once the priest is clean again, he must count off seven days. 27 On the day that he comes into the holy place, the inner courtyard, to minister in the holy place, he will present his purification offering. This is what the Lord God says. 28 As for their inheritance, I am their inheritance. They won’t be given family property in Israel; I am their family property. 29 They will eat the grain offerings, the purification offerings, and the compensation offerings. Every dedicated thing in Israel belongs to them. 30 The best of the early produce of every kind, and every contribution, all of them, belong to the priests. You will give the best of your bread dough to the priest so that a blessing may come to rest on your household. 31 The priests must not eat any bird or animal that dies naturally or is torn apart by prey.
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Ezekiel 44:15-31
New International Version
Ezekiel 44:15-31
New International Version
15 “‘But the Levitical priests, who are descendants of Zadok(A) and who guarded my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, are to come near to minister before me; they are to stand before me to offer sacrifices of fat(B) and blood, declares the Sovereign Lord.(C) 16 They alone are to enter my sanctuary; they alone are to come near my table(D) to minister before me and serve me as guards.(E)
17 “‘When they enter the gates of the inner court, they are to wear linen clothes;(F) they must not wear any woolen garment while ministering at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple. 18 They are to wear linen turbans(G) on their heads and linen undergarments(H) around their waists. They must not wear anything that makes them perspire.(I) 19 When they go out into the outer court where the people are, they are to take off the clothes they have been ministering in and are to leave them in the sacred rooms, and put on other clothes, so that the people are not consecrated(J) through contact with their garments.(K)
20 “‘They must not shave(L) their heads or let their hair grow long, but they are to keep the hair of their heads trimmed.(M) 21 No priest is to drink wine when he enters the inner court.(N) 22 They must not marry widows or divorced women; they may marry only virgins of Israelite descent or widows of priests.(O) 23 They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common(P) and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.(Q)
24 “‘In any dispute, the priests are to serve as judges(R) and decide it according to my ordinances. They are to keep my laws and my decrees for all my appointed festivals,(S) and they are to keep my Sabbaths holy.(T)
25 “‘A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person; however, if the dead person was his father or mother, son or daughter, brother or unmarried sister, then he may defile himself.(U) 26 After he is cleansed, he must wait seven days.(V) 27 On the day he goes into the inner court of the sanctuary(W) to minister in the sanctuary, he is to offer a sin offering[a](X) for himself, declares the Sovereign Lord.
28 “‘I am to be the only inheritance(Y) the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession. 29 They will eat(Z) the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings; and everything in Israel devoted[b] to the Lord(AA) will belong to them.(AB) 30 The best of all the firstfruits(AC) and of all your special gifts will belong to the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal(AD) so that a blessing(AE) may rest on your household.(AF) 31 The priests must not eat anything, whether bird or animal, found dead(AG) or torn by wild animals.(AH)
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 44:27 Or purification offering; also in verse 29
- Ezekiel 44:29 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord.
Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
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