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The Lord God proclaims: Foreigners who are spiritually and physically uncircumcised must not enter my sanctuary; that is, all foreigners among the Israelites. 10 But the Levites, who went far from me when Israel went astray, who went astray from me after their idols, will bear their guilt. 11 They will keep charge in my sanctuary, and they will oversee the temple gates and keep charge of the temple. They will slaughter the entirely burned offerings and the sacrifices for the people, and they will stand before them to minister to them. 12 Because they ministered to them before their idols, they brought about the downfall of the house of Israel. For that reason I made a solemn pledge against them—this is what the Lord God says—and they will bear their guilt. 13 They won’t approach me to officiate for me as priests or approach any of my holy things or the most holy place. Though they will bear their humiliation and the consequences of their detestable practices, 14 I will appoint them to keep charge of the temple, all its work, and all that is done in it.

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This is what the Sovereign Lord says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh is to enter my sanctuary, not even the foreigners who live among the Israelites.(A)

10 “‘The Levites who went far from me when Israel went astray(B) and who wandered from me after their idols must bear the consequences of their sin.(C) 11 They may serve in my sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and serving in it; they may slaughter the burnt offerings(D) and sacrifices for the people and stand before the people and serve them.(E) 12 But because they served them in the presence of their idols and made the people of Israel fall(F) into sin, therefore I have sworn with uplifted hand(G) that they must bear the consequences of their sin, declares the Sovereign Lord.(H) 13 They are not to come near to serve me as priests or come near any of my holy things or my most holy offerings; they must bear the shame(I) of their detestable practices.(J) 14 And I will appoint them to guard the temple for all the work that is to be done in it.(K)

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