Levites Dedicated Instead of the Firstborn

⁴⁰ Then the Lord said to Moses: ^(A)“Number^[a] all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and above, and take the number of their names.

¹⁵ “Number the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families; you shall number ^(A)every male from a month old and above.”

⁴ These are the ones who were not defiled with women, ^(A)for they are virgins. These are the ones ^(B)who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These ^(C)were ^[a]redeemed from among men, ^(D)being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

⁵ He who overcomes ^(A)shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not ^(B)blot out his name from the ^(C)Book of Life; but ^(D)I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

²³ to the ^[a]general assembly and church of ^(A)the firstborn ^(B)who are registered in heaven, to God ^(C)the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men ^(D)made perfect,

¹⁹ Nevertheless ^(A)the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord ^(B)knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of ^[a]Christ depart from iniquity.”

^3 [a]And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who ^(A)labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in ^(B)the Book of Life.

²⁰ Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but ^[a]rather rejoice because ^(A)your names are written in heaven.”

³ And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem ^(A)will be called holy—everyone who is ^(B)recorded among the living in Jerusalem.