Ezekiel 44:9-14

Expanded Bible

⁹ This is what the Lord God says: Foreigners who ·do not give themselves to serving me [^Lare uncircumcised in heart] and who are uncircumcised in flesh may not enter my ·Temple [sanctuary]. Not even a foreigner living among the ·people [^Lsons/^Tchildren] of Israel may enter.

¹⁰ “‘But the Levites who ·stopped obeying [^Lwent far from] me when Israel ·left me [went astray] and who followed their idols must ·be punished [be responsible; bear the penalty] for their sin. ¹¹ These Levites are to be ·servants in [ministers of] my ·Holy Place [sanctuary]. They may guard the gates of the ·Temple [^Lhouse] and serve in the ·Temple area [^Lhouse]. They may ·kill the animals for [^Lslaughter] the burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17] and the sacrifices for the people. They may stand before the people to ·serve [minister to] them. ¹² But these Levites ·helped the people worship [^Lministered to them before] their idols and caused the ·people [^Lhouse] of Israel to ·fall [stumble], so I ·make this promise [^Lswear with uplifted hand]: They will ·be punished [be responsible; bear the penalty] for their sin, says the Lord God. ¹³ They will not come near me to serve as priests, nor will they come near any of my holy things or the most holy offerings. But they will ·be made ashamed of [bear the shame for] ·the things they did that I hate [their detestable/abominable actions]. ¹⁴ Yet I will ·put them in charge of taking care [appoint them to guard/keep charge] of the ·Temple area [^Lhouse], all the work that must be done in it.