⁵⁰ So we are presenting the items of gold we captured as an offering to the Lord from our share of the plunder—armbands, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces. This will purify our lives before the Lord and make us right with him.^[a]”

¹² “Whenever you take a census of the people of Israel, each man who is counted must pay a ransom for himself to the Lord. Then no plague will strike the people as you count them.

¹⁵ When this offering is given to the Lord to purify your lives, making you right with him,^[a] the rich must not give more than the specified amount, and the poor must not give less. ¹⁶ Receive this ransom money from the Israelites, and use it for the care of the Tabernacle.^[b] It will bring the Israelites to the Lord’s attention, and it will purify your lives.”

¹¹ for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord.^[a] It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.