Molech Worship and Spiritism

20 The Lord spoke to Moses: “Say to the Israelites: Any Israelite or alien residing in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech(A) must be put to death; the people of the country are to stone him.(B) I will turn[a] against that man and cut him off from his people, because he gave his offspring to Molech, defiling my sanctuary(C) and profaning my holy name.(D) But if the people of the country look the other way when that man[b] gives any of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will turn against that man and his family, and cut off from their people both him and all who follow[c] him in prostituting(E) themselves with Molech.

“Whoever turns to mediums[d](F) or spiritists[e] and prostitutes himself with them, I will turn against that person and cut him off from his people. Consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sets you apart.

Family and Sexual Offenses

“If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death.(G) He has cursed his father or mother; his death is his own fault.[f]

10 “If a man commits adultery(H) with a married woman—if he commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife—both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. 11 If a man sleeps with his father’s wife, he has violated the intimacy that belongs to his father.[g](I) Both of them must be put to death; their death is their own fault.[h] 12 If a man sleeps with his daughter-in-law,(J) both of them must be put to death. They have acted perversely; their death is their own fault. 13 If a man sleeps with a man as with a woman,(K) they have both committed a detestable act.(L) They must be put to death; their death is their own fault. 14 If a man marries[i] a woman and her mother,(M) it is depraved. Both he and they must be burned,(N) so that there will be no depravity among you. 15 If a man has sexual intercourse with[j] an animal, he must be put to death; you are also to kill the animal. 16 If a woman approaches any animal and mates with it, you are to kill the woman and the animal.(O) They must be put to death; their death is their own fault. 17 If a man marries his sister,(P) whether his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter, and they have sexual relations,[k](Q) it is a disgrace.(R) They are to be cut off publicly from their people. He has had sexual intercourse with his sister; he will bear his iniquity. 18 If a man sleeps with a menstruating woman and has sexual intercourse with her, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has uncovered the source of her blood.(S) Both of them are to be cut off from their people. 19 You must not have sexual intercourse with your mother’s sister or your father’s sister,(T) for it is exposing one’s own blood relative; both people will bear their iniquity. 20 If a man sleeps with his aunt, he has violated the intimacy that belongs to his uncle;[l](U) they will bear their guilt and die childless. 21 If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is impurity.(V) He has violated the intimacy that belongs to his brother;[m](W) they will be childless.

Holiness in the Land

22 “You are to keep all my statutes and all my ordinances, and do them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live will not vomit you out.(X) 23 You must not follow the statutes of the nations I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and I abhorred them.(Y) 24 And I promised you: You will inherit their land, since I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.(Z) I am the Lord your God who set you apart from the peoples. 25 Therefore you are to distinguish the clean animal from the unclean one, and the unclean bird from the clean one. Do not become contaminated(AA) by any land animal, bird, or whatever crawls on the ground; I have set these apart as unclean for you.(AB) 26 You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be mine.(AC)

27 “A man or a woman who is[n] a medium or a spiritist must be put to death. They are to be stoned; their death is their own fault.”

The Holiness of the Priests

21 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron’s sons, the priests, and tell them: A priest is not to make himself ceremonially unclean for a dead person among his relatives,(AD) except for his immediate family: his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother. He may make himself unclean for his unmarried virgin sister in his immediate family. He is not to make himself unclean for those related to him by marriage[o] and so defile himself.

“Priests may not make bald spots on their heads, shave the edge of their beards, or make gashes on their bodies.(AE) They are to be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God.(AF) For they present the food offerings to the Lord, the food of their God, and they must be holy. They are not to marry a woman defiled by prostitution.[p](AG) They are not to marry one divorced(AH) by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God. You are to consider him holy since he presents the food of your God. He will be holy to you because I, the Lord who sets you apart, am holy. If a priest’s daughter defiles herself by promiscuity,[q](AI) she defiles her father; she must be burned to death.(AJ)

10 “The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained[r] to wear the clothes, must not dishevel his hair[s] or tear his clothes.(AK) 11 He must not go near any dead person or make himself unclean even for his father or mother.(AL) 12 He must not leave the sanctuary or he will desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him;(AM) I am the Lord.

13 “He is to marry a woman who is a virgin. 14 He is not to marry a widow,(AN) a divorced woman,(AO) or one defiled by prostitution. He is to marry a virgin from his own people, 15 so that he does not corrupt his bloodline[t] among his people, for I am the Lord who sets him apart.”

Physical Defects and Priests

16 The Lord spoke to Moses: 17 “Tell Aaron: None of your descendants throughout your generations who has a physical defect(AP) is to come near to present the food(AQ) of his God. 18 No man who has any defect is to come near: no man who is blind, lame, facially disfigured, or deformed; 19 no man who has a broken foot or hand, 20 or who is a hunchback or a dwarf,[u](AR) or who has an eye defect, a festering rash, scabs,(AS) or a crushed testicle.(AT) 21 No descendant of the priest Aaron who has a defect is to come near to present the food offerings to the Lord. He has a defect and is not to come near to present the food of his God. 22 He may eat the food of his God from what is especially holy as well as from what is holy. 23 But because he has a defect, he must not go near the curtain(AU) or approach the altar. He is not to desecrate my holy places, for I am the Lord who sets them apart.”(AV) 24 Moses said this to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites.

Footnotes

  1. 20:3 Lit will set my face, also in vv. 5,6
  2. 20:4 Lit country ever close their eyes from that man when he
  3. 20:5 Lit prostitute themselves with
  4. 20:6 Or spirits of the dead
  5. 20:6 Or familiar spirits
  6. 20:9 Lit his blood on him
  7. 20:11 Lit has uncovered his father’s nakedness
  8. 20:11 Lit their blood on them, also in vv. 12,13,16,27
  9. 20:14 Lit takes, also in vv. 17,21
  10. 20:15 Lit man gives his emission to
  11. 20:17 Lit and he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness
  12. 20:20 Lit has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness
  13. 20:21 Lit has uncovered his brother’s nakedness
  14. 20:27 Lit is in them
  15. 21:4 Lit unclean a husband among his people
  16. 21:7 Or a prostitute, or a defiled woman
  17. 21:9 Or prostitution
  18. 21:10 Lit and one has filled his hand
  19. 21:10 Or not uncover his head
  20. 21:15 Lit not profane his seed
  21. 21:20 Or or emaciated

Punishments for Sin

20 The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in Israel who sacrifices any of his children to Molek is to be put to death.(A) The members of the community are to stone him.(B) I myself will set my face against him and will cut him off from his people;(C) for by sacrificing his children to Molek, he has defiled(D) my sanctuary(E) and profaned my holy name.(F) If the members of the community close their eyes when that man sacrifices one of his children to Molek and if they fail to put him to death,(G) I myself will set my face against him and his family and will cut them off from their people together with all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molek.

“‘I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.(H)

“‘Consecrate yourselves(I) and be holy,(J) because I am the Lord your God.(K) Keep my decrees(L) and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.(M)

“‘Anyone who curses their father(N) or mother(O) is to be put to death.(P) Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head.(Q)

10 “‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife(R)—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.(S)

11 “‘If a man has sexual relations with his father’s wife, he has dishonored his father.(T) Both the man and the woman are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.(U)

12 “‘If a man has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law,(V) both of them are to be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads.

13 “‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable.(W) They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

14 “‘If a man marries both a woman and her mother,(X) it is wicked. Both he and they must be burned in the fire,(Y) so that no wickedness will be among you.(Z)

15 “‘If a man has sexual relations with an animal,(AA) he is to be put to death,(AB) and you must kill the animal.

16 “‘If a woman approaches an animal to have sexual relations with it, kill both the woman and the animal. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

17 “‘If a man marries his sister(AC), the daughter of either his father or his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They are to be publicly removed(AD) from their people. He has dishonored his sister and will be held responsible.(AE)

18 “‘If a man has sexual relations with a woman during her monthly period,(AF) he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has also uncovered it. Both of them are to be cut off from their people.(AG)

19 “‘Do not have sexual relations with the sister of either your mother or your father,(AH) for that would dishonor a close relative; both of you would be held responsible.

20 “‘If a man has sexual relations with his aunt,(AI) he has dishonored his uncle. They will be held responsible; they will die childless.(AJ)

21 “‘If a man marries his brother’s wife,(AK) it is an act of impurity; he has dishonored his brother. They will be childless.(AL)

22 “‘Keep all my decrees and laws(AM) and follow them, so that the land(AN) where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. 23 You must not live according to the customs of the nations(AO) I am going to drive out before you.(AP) Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.(AQ) 24 But I said to you, “You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey.”(AR) I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations.(AS)

25 “‘You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean animals and between unclean and clean birds.(AT) Do not defile yourselves by any animal or bird or anything that moves along the ground—those that I have set apart as unclean for you. 26 You are to be holy to me(AU) because I, the Lord, am holy,(AV) and I have set you apart from the nations(AW) to be my own.

27 “‘A man or woman who is a medium(AX) or spiritist among you must be put to death.(AY) You are to stone them;(AZ) their blood will be on their own heads.’”

Rules for Priests

21 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron,(BA) and say to them: ‘A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean(BB) for any of his people who die,(BC) except for a close relative, such as his mother or father,(BD) his son or daughter, his brother, or an unmarried sister who is dependent on him since she has no husband—for her he may make himself unclean.(BE) He must not make himself unclean for people related to him by marriage,[a] and so defile himself.

“‘Priests must not shave(BF) their heads or shave off the edges of their beards(BG) or cut their bodies.(BH) They must be holy to their God(BI) and must not profane the name of their God.(BJ) Because they present the food offerings to the Lord,(BK) the food of their God,(BL) they are to be holy.(BM)

“‘They must not marry women defiled by prostitution or divorced from their husbands,(BN) because priests are holy to their God.(BO) Regard them as holy,(BP) because they offer up the food of your God.(BQ) Consider them holy, because I the Lord am holy—I who make you holy.(BR)

“‘If a priest’s daughter defiles herself by becoming a prostitute, she disgraces her father; she must be burned in the fire.(BS)

10 “‘The high priest, the one among his brothers who has had the anointing oil poured on his head(BT) and who has been ordained to wear the priestly garments,(BU) must not let his hair become unkempt[b] or tear his clothes.(BV) 11 He must not enter a place where there is a dead body.(BW) He must not make himself unclean,(BX) even for his father or mother,(BY) 12 nor leave the sanctuary(BZ) of his God or desecrate it, because he has been dedicated by the anointing oil(CA) of his God. I am the Lord.

13 “‘The woman he marries must be a virgin.(CB) 14 He must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, or a woman defiled by prostitution, but only a virgin from his own people, 15 so that he will not defile his offspring among his people. I am the Lord, who makes him holy.’”

16 The Lord said to Moses, 17 “Say to Aaron: ‘For the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect(CC) may come near to offer the food of his God.(CD) 18 No man who has any defect(CE) may come near: no man who is blind(CF) or lame,(CG) disfigured or deformed; 19 no man with a crippled foot or hand, 20 or who is a hunchback or a dwarf, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles.(CH) 21 No descendant of Aaron the priest who has any defect(CI) is to come near to present the food offerings to the Lord.(CJ) He has a defect; he must not come near to offer the food of his God.(CK) 22 He may eat the most holy food of his God,(CL) as well as the holy food; 23 yet because of his defect,(CM) he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary.(CN) I am the Lord, who makes them holy.(CO)’”

24 So Moses told this to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites.

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 21:4 Or unclean as a leader among his people
  2. Leviticus 21:10 Or not uncover his head

The Son of Man Forgives and Heals

When(A) he entered Capernaum(B) again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word(C) to them. They came to him bringing a paralytic,(D) carried by four of them. Since they were not able to bring him to[a] Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. Seeing their faith,(E) Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins(F) are forgiven.”(G)

But some of the scribes(H) were sitting there, questioning(I) in their hearts: “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming!(J) Who can forgive(K) sins(L) but God alone?” (M)

Right away(N) Jesus perceived in his spirit(O) that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier:(P) to say to the paralytic,(Q) ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’?(R) 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man(S) has authority(T) on earth to forgive sins”(U)—he told the paralytic— 11 “I tell you: get up,(V) take your mat, and go home.”

12 Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded(W) and gave glory(X) to God,(Y) saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” (Z)

The Call of Levi

13 Jesus(AA) went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching(AB) them. 14 Then, passing by, he saw Levi(AC) the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office,(AD) and he said to him, “Follow me,”(AE) and he got up and followed(AF) him.

15 While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors(AG) and sinners(AH) were eating[b] with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him. 16 When the scribes(AI) who were Pharisees[c](AJ) saw that he was eating(AK) with sinners(AL) and tax collectors,(AM) they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat[d] with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need(AN) a doctor,(AO) but those who are sick.(AP) I didn’t come to call the righteous,(AQ) but sinners.”(AR)

A Question about Fasting

18 Now(AS) John’s(AT) disciples(AU) and the Pharisees[e](AV) were fasting.(AW) People came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

19 Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom(AX) is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the time[f] will come(AY) when the groom will be taken away from them,(AZ) and then they will fast(BA) on that day. 21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth,(BB) and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine(BC) into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst(BD) the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins. No, new wine is put into fresh wineskins.”

Lord of the Sabbath

23 On(BE) the Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and his disciples(BF) began to make their way, picking some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees(BG) said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful(BH) on the Sabbath?”

25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David(BI) and those who were with him did when he was in need(BJ) and hungry(BK) 26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar(BL) the high priest(BM) and ate the bread of the Presence(BN) —which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests(BO) —and also gave some to his companions?” 27 Then he told them, “The Sabbath was made for[g] man and not man for the Sabbath.(BP) 28 So then, the Son of Man(BQ) is Lord(BR) even of the Sabbath.”(BS)

Footnotes

  1. 2:4 Other mss read able to get near
  2. 2:15 Lit reclining together
  3. 2:16 Other mss read scribes and Pharisees
  4. 2:16 Other mss add and drink
  5. 2:18 Other mss read The disciples of John and of the Pharisees
  6. 2:20 Or the days
  7. 2:27 Or because of

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man(A)

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers(B) that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man,(C) carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”(D)

Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”(E)

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man(F) has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God,(G) saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”(H)

Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners(I)

13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him,(J) and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,”(K) Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees(L) saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”(M)

17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”(N)

Jesus Questioned About Fasting(O)

18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting.(P) Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”

19 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them,(Q) and on that day they will fast.

21 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath(R)(S)

23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.(T) 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”(U)

25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest,(V) he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat.(W) And he also gave some to his companions.”(X)

27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man,(Y) not man for the Sabbath.(Z) 28 So the Son of Man(AA) is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

I do not sit with the worthless
or associate with hypocrites.
I hate a crowd of evildoers,
and I do not sit with the wicked.(A)
I wash my hands in innocence(B)
and go around your altar, Lord,(C)
raising my voice in thanksgiving(D)
and telling about your wondrous works.(E)

Lord, I love the house where you dwell,
the place where your glory resides.(F)
Do not destroy me along with sinners,
or my life along with men of bloodshed(G)
10 in whose hands are evil schemes
and whose right hands are filled with bribes.(H)

11 But I live with integrity;
redeem me and be gracious to me.(I)
12 My foot stands on level ground;(J)
I will bless the Lord in the assemblies.(K)

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I do not sit(A) with the deceitful,
    nor do I associate with hypocrites.(B)
I abhor(C) the assembly of evildoers
    and refuse to sit with the wicked.
I wash my hands in innocence,(D)
    and go about your altar, Lord,
proclaiming aloud your praise(E)
    and telling of all your wonderful deeds.(F)

Lord, I love(G) the house where you live,
    the place where your glory dwells.(H)
Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
    my life with those who are bloodthirsty,(I)
10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,(J)
    whose right hands are full of bribes.(K)
11 I lead a blameless life;
    deliver me(L) and be merciful to me.

12 My feet stand on level ground;(M)
    in the great congregation(N) I will praise the Lord.

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23 For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light,(A)
and corrective discipline is the way to life.(B)
24 They will protect you from an evil woman,[a]
from the flattering tongue of a wayward woman.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 6:24 LXX reads from a married woman

23 For this command is a lamp,
    this teaching is a light,(A)
and correction and instruction
    are the way to life,(B)
24 keeping you from your neighbor’s wife,
    from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.(C)

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