⁴ And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi^(A) may continue,” says the Lord Almighty.

¹² “I have taken the Levites^(A) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring^(B) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,^(C)

²³ And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.^(A)’

² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,^(A) while every branch that does bear fruit^(B) he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.

¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”^(A)

⁹ But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the Lord only if his prediction comes true.^(A)”

²⁹ Remember^(A) them, my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.^(B)

¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you.^(A) Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’^(B)

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)

¹⁵ “‘But the Levitical priests, who are descendants of Zadok^(L) 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^(M) and blood, declares the Sovereign Lord.^{(N) 16} They alone are to enter my sanctuary; they alone are to come near my table^(O) to minister before me and serve me as guards.^(P)