⁹ “‘If someone dies suddenly in the Nazirite’s presence, thus defiling the hair that symbolizes their dedication,^(A) they must shave their head on the seventh day—the day of their cleansing.^(B)

¹⁸ “‘Then at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that symbolizes their dedication.^(A) They are to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

¹⁸ Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters^(A) and sailed for Syria,^(B) accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.^(C) Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae^(D) because of a vow he had taken.^(E)

⁹ On the seventh day^(A) they must shave off all their hair;^(B) they must shave their head, their beard, their eyebrows and the rest of their hair. They must wash their clothes and bathe themselves with water, and they will be clean.^(C)

⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing^(A) Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ^{(B) 9} and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,^(C) but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness^(D) that comes from God on the basis of faith.^(E)

²³ so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow.^{(A) 24} Take these men, join in their purification rites^(B) and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved.^(C) Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law.

¹⁴ “This is the law that applies when a person dies in a tent: Anyone who enters the tent and anyone who is in it will be unclean for seven days, ¹⁵ and every open container^(A) without a lid fastened on it will be unclean.

¹⁶ “Anyone out in the open who touches someone who has been killed with a sword or someone who has died a natural death,^(B) or anyone who touches a human bone^(C) or a grave,^(D) will be unclean for seven days.^(E)

¹⁷ “For the unclean person, put some ashes^(F) from the burned purification offering into a jar and pour fresh water^(G) over them. ¹⁸ Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop,^(H) dip it in the water and sprinkle^(I) the tent and all the furnishings and the people who were there. He must also sprinkle anyone who has touched a human bone or a grave^(J) or anyone who has been killed or anyone who has died a natural death. ¹⁹ The man who is clean is to sprinkle^(K) those who are unclean on the third and seventh days, and on the seventh day he is to purify them.^(L) Those who are being cleansed must wash their clothes^(M) and bathe with water, and that evening they will be clean.