²³ yet because of his defect,^(A) he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary.^(B) I am the Lord, who makes them holy.^(C)’”

¹² nor leave the sanctuary^(A) of his God or desecrate it, because he has been dedicated by the anointing oil^(B) of his God. I am the Lord.

⁹ 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)

³¹ “‘You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place,^[a](A) which is among them.’”

²⁶ Moses placed the gold altar^(A) in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain ²⁷ and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord commanded^(B) him.

⁶ Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law—before the atonement cover^(A) that is over the tablets of the covenant law—where I will meet with you.

⁷ “Aaron must burn fragrant incense^(B) on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. ⁸ He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come.^(C)