Old/New Testament
6 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “A person might sin against the Lord ·by doing one of these sins [L and be unfaithful/disloyal]: He might lie about ·what happened to something he was taking care of for someone else [L a deposit], or ·he might lie about a promise he made [L a pledge]. He might steal something or cheat someone. 3 He might find something that had been lost and then lie about it. He might make a promise before the Lord about something and not mean it, or he might do some other sin. 4 If he does any of these things, he is guilty of sin. He must bring back whatever he stole or whatever he took by cheating. He must bring back the ·thing he took care of for someone else [deposit]. He must bring back what he found and lied about 5 or what he made a false promise about. He must pay the full price plus an extra one-fifth of the value of what he took. He must give the money to the true owner on the day he brings his ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offering. 6 He must bring his penalty to the priest—a male sheep from the flock, ·one that does not have anything wrong with it [unblemished] and that is worth the correct amount. It will be a ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offering to the Lord. 7 Then the priest will ·perform the acts to remove that person’s sin so he will belong to the Lord, and the Lord will forgive him [make atonement for him and he will be forgiven] for the sins that made him guilty.”
The Whole Burnt Offering
8 The Lord said to Moses, 9 “Give this command to Aaron and ·the priests [L his sons]: ‘These are the ·teachings [laws; instruction] about the whole burnt offering [1:1–17]: The burnt offering must stay on the [L hearth of the] altar all night until morning, and the altar’s fire must be kept burning. 10 The priest must put on his linen robe and linen underclothes next to his body. Then he will remove the ashes from the burnt offering on the altar and put them beside the altar. 11 Then he must take off those clothes and put on others and carry the ashes outside the camp to a special clean [C in a ritual sense] place. 12 But the fire must be kept burning on the altar; it must not be ·allowed to go out [extinguished]. The priest must put more firewood on the altar every morning, place the whole burnt offering on the fire, and ·burn [L turn into smoke] the fat of the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [3:1]. 13 The fire must be kept burning on the altar ·all the time [perpetually]; it must not ·go out [be extinguished].
The Grain Offering
14 “‘These are the ·teachings [laws; instructions] about the ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [2:1]: The ·priests [L sons of Aaron] must bring it to the Lord in front of the altar. 15 The priest must take a handful of ·fine [choice] flour, with the oil and all of the ·incense [frankincense] on it, and ·burn the grain offering [L turn it into smoke] on the altar as a memorial offering to the Lord. Its smell is pleasing to him. 16 Aaron and ·the priests [L his sons] may eat what is left, but it must be eaten ·without yeast [unleavened] in a holy place. They must eat it in the courtyard of the Meeting Tent. 17 It must not be ·cooked [baked] with ·yeast [leaven]. I have given it as their ·share [portion] of the offerings made to me by fire; it is most holy, like the ·sin [or purification] offering [4:3] and the ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offering [5:14–6:7]. 18 Any male descendant of Aaron may eat it as his ·share of the offerings [perpetual due; decree] made to the Lord by fire, ·and this will continue from now on [L throughout your generations]. Whatever touches these offerings shall become holy.’”
19 The Lord said to Moses, 20 “This is the ·offering [gift] Aaron and ·the priests [L his sons] must bring to the Lord on the day they ·appoint Aaron as high priest [L anoint him]: They must bring ·two quarts [L one-tenth of an ephah] of ·fine [choice] flour for a ·continual [perpetual] ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [2:1], half of it in the morning and half in the evening. 21 The ·fine [choice] flour must be mixed with oil and cooked on a griddle. Bring it when it is well ·mixed [or soaked]. Present the ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [2:1] that is ·broken into pieces [or partly baked; or folded], and it will be a smell that is pleasing to the Lord. 22 One of the priests ·appointed [anointed] to take Aaron’s place as high priest must make the ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [2:1]. It is a ·rule [statute; ordinance; regulation] forever that the ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [2:1] must be completely burned to the Lord. 23 Every grain offering made by a priest must be completely ·burned [L turned into smoke]; it must not be eaten.”
The Sin Offering
24 The Lord said to Moses, 25 “Tell Aaron and ·the priests [L his sons]: ‘These are the ·teachings [laws; instructions] about the ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offering: The ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offering must be ·killed [slaughtered] in front of the Lord in the same place the whole burnt offering [ch. 1] is ·killed [slaughtered]; it is most holy. 26 The priest who offers the ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offering must eat it in a holy place, in the courtyard of the Meeting Tent. 27 Whatever touches the meat of the ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offering ·must be [or will become] ·holy [consecrated; set apart], and if the blood is ·sprinkled [spattered] on any clothes, you must wash them in a holy place. 28 The clay pot the meat is ·cooked [boiled] in must be broken, or if a bronze pot is used, it must be scrubbed and rinsed with water. 29 Any male in a priest’s family may eat the offering; it is most holy. 30 But if the blood of the ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offering is taken into the Meeting Tent and used to ·remove sin [make atonement] in the Holy Place, that ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offering must be burned with fire. It must not be eaten.
The Penalty Offering
7 “‘These are the ·teachings [laws; instructions] about the ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offering [5:14–6:7], which is most holy: 2 The ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offering must be ·killed [slaughtered] where the whole burnt offering is ·killed [slaughtered; ch. 1]. Then the priest must ·sprinkle [dash] its blood on all sides of the altar. 3 He must offer all the fat from the ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offering—the fat tail, the fat that covers the inner organs, 4 both kidneys with the fat that is on them near the ·lower back muscle [loins], and the ·best part [appendage] of the liver, which is to be removed with the kidneys. 5 The priest must ·burn [L turn into smoke] all these things on the altar as an offering made by fire to the Lord. It is a ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offering. 6 Any male in a priest’s family may eat it. It is most holy, so it must be eaten in a holy place.
7 “‘The ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offering [5:14–6:7] is like the ·sin [or purification] offering [4:3] in that the ·teachings [laws; instructions] are the same for both. The priest who ·offers the sacrifice to remove sins [makes atonement with it] will ·get the meat for food [L have it]. 8 The priest who offers the burnt offering [ch. 1] may also have the skin from it. 9 Every ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [2:1] that is baked in an oven, cooked on a griddle, or baked in a dish belongs to the priest who offers it. 10 Every ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [2:1], either dry or mixed with oil, belongs to the priests, and ·all priests [L sons of Aaron] will share alike.
The Fellowship Offering
11 “‘These are the ·teachings [laws; instructions] about the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1] a person may offer to the Lord: 12 If he brings the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1] to show his thanks, he should also bring loaves of bread made without ·yeast [leaven] that are mixed with oil, wafers made without ·yeast [leaven] that have oil poured over them, and loaves of ·fine [choice] flour that are ·mixed [or soaked] with oil. 13 He must also offer loaves of bread made with ·yeast [leaven] along with his ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1], which he gives to show thanks. 14 One of each kind of ·offering [gift] will be for the Lord; it will be given to the priest who ·sprinkles [dashes] the blood of the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering. 15 When the fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1] is given to thank the Lord, the meat from it must be eaten the same day it is offered; none of it must be left until morning.
16 “‘If a person brings a ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1] ·just to give a gift to God [as a freewill offering] or because of a ·special promise to him [votive offering; C in fulfillment of a vow], the sacrifice should be eaten the same day he offers it. If there is any left, it may be eaten the next day. 17 If any meat from this sacrifice is left on the third day, it must be burned ·up [L with fire]. 18 Any meat of the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering eaten on the third day will not be accepted, nor will the sacrifice count for the person who offered it. It ·will become unclean [is an abomination], and anyone who eats the meat will be guilty of sin.
19 “‘People must not eat meat that touches anything unclean [C in a ritual sense]; they must burn this meat with fire. Anyone who is clean may eat other meat. 20 But if anyone is unclean and eats the meat from the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1] that belongs to the Lord, he must be cut off from his people.
21 “‘If anyone touches something unclean [C in a ritual sense]—uncleanness that comes from people, from an animal, or from some ·hated thing [or swarming creature]—touching it will make him unclean. If he then eats meat from the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1] that belongs to the Lord, he must be cut off from his people.’”
22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell the ·people [L sons; children] of Israel: ‘You must not eat any of the fat from cattle, sheep, or goats [3:17]. 24 If an animal is found dead or torn by wild animals, you may use its fat for other things, but you must not eat it. 25 If someone eats fat from an animal offering made by fire to the Lord, he must be cut off from his people. 26 No matter where you live, you must not eat blood from any bird or animal. 27 Anyone who eats blood must be cut off from his people [3:17].’”
The Priests’ Share
28 The Lord said to Moses, 29 “Tell the ·people [L sons; children] of Israel: ‘If someone brings a ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1] to the Lord, he must give part of it as his sacrifice to the Lord. 30 He must carry that part of the gift in his own hands as an offering made by fire to the Lord. He must bring the fat and the breast of the animal to the priest, to be presented to the Lord as ·the priests’ share [L an elevation offering]. 31 Then the priest must ·burn [L turn into smoke] the fat on the altar, but the breast of the animal will belong to Aaron and ·the priests [L his sons]. 32 You must also give the right thigh from the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1] to the priest as a ·gift [L elevation offering]; 33 it will belong to the ·priest [L son of Aaron] who offers the blood and fat of the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering. 34 I have taken the breast and the thigh from the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [3:1] of the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel], and I have given these parts to Aaron and ·the priests [L his sons] as ·their share for all time [an eternal regulation] from the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel].’”
35 This is the portion that belongs to Aaron and his sons from the offerings made by fire to the Lord. They were given this share on the day they were presented to the Lord as priests. 36 On the day ·the Lord appointed the priests [L he anointed them], he commanded Israel to give this share to them, and it is ·to be given to the priests as their share [L an eternal regulation] ·from now on [L throughout their generations].
37 These are the ·teachings [laws; instructions] about the whole burnt offering, the ·grain [gift; tribute] offering [2:1], the ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offering, the ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offering [5:14–6:7], the offering for ·the appointment of priests [ordination], and the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1]. 38 The Lord ·gave these teachings to [L commanded] Moses on Mount Sinai on the day he commanded the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] to bring their ·offerings [gifts] to the Lord in the Sinai ·Desert [Wilderness].
A Story About Ten Bridesmaids
25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten ·bridesmaids [L virgins] who took their lamps and went to ·wait for [meet] the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were ·wise [sensible; prudent]. 3 The five foolish ·bridesmaids [L virgins] took their lamps, but they did not take more oil for the lamps to burn. 4 The ·wise [sensible; prudent] ·bridesmaids [L virgins] took their lamps and more oil in ·jars [flasks]. 5 Because the bridegroom was ·late [delayed], they became ·sleepy [drowsy] and went to sleep.
6 “At midnight someone cried out, ‘·The bridegroom is coming [L Look, the bridegroom]! Come and meet him!’ 7 Then all the ·bridesmaids [L virgins] woke up and ·got their lamps ready [trimmed their lamps]. 8 But the foolish ones said to the ·wise [sensible; prudent], ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 9 The ·wise [sensible; prudent] bridesmaids answered, ‘No, the oil we have might not be enough ·for all of us [L for us and for you]. Go to the people who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “So while ·the five foolish bridesmaids [L they] went to buy oil, the bridegroom came. The bridesmaids who were ready went in with the bridegroom to the wedding feast. Then the door was ·closed and locked [L shut].
11 “Later the others came back and said, ‘·Sir, sir, [Lord, lord] open the door to let us in.’ 12 But the bridegroom answered, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’
13 “So ·always be ready [stay awake; be alert; keep watch], because you don’t know the day or the hour [C the Son of Man will come].
A Story About Three Servants(A)
14 “·The kingdom of heaven [L It] is like a man who was going ·to another place for a visit [on a journey/trip]. Before he left, he called for his servants and ·told them to take care of his things while he was gone [L entrusted his possessions/wealth to them]. 15 He gave one servant five ·bags of gold [L talents; C a talent was worth about 6,000 denarii, or twenty years’ wages for a laborer], another servant two ·bags of gold [L talents], and a third servant one ·bag of gold [L talent], to each one ·as much as he could handle [L according to his ability]. Then he left. 16 The servant who got five ·bags [L talents] went quickly ·to invest the money [and traded with them; and put the money to work] and ·earned [gained] five more. 17 In the same way, the servant who had two ·invested [traded with] them and ·earned [gained] two more. 18 But the servant who got one went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master came home and ·asked the servants what they did with his money [settled/went over the accounts with them]. 20 The servant who was given five ·bags of gold [L talents] brought five more ·bags [L talents] to the master and said, ‘Master, you trusted me to care for five ·bags of gold [L talents], ·so I used your five to earn [L see, I have earned] five more.’ 21 The master answered, ‘You did well. You are a good and ·loyal [faithful] servant. Because you were ·loyal [faithful] with ·small [a few] things, I will ·let you care for [put you in charge of] ·much greater [many] things. ·Come and share my joy with me [L Enter into the joy of your master].’
22 “Then the servant who had been given two ·bags of gold [L talents] came to the master and said, ‘Master, you ·gave me [trusted me with] two ·bags of gold [L talents] to care for, ·so I used your two bags to earn [L see, I have earned] two more.’ 23 The master answered, ‘You did well. You are a good and ·loyal [faithful] servant. Because you were ·loyal [faithful] with ·small [a few] things, I will ·let you care for [put you in charge of] ·much greater [many] things. ·Come and share my joy with me [L Enter into the joy of your master].’
24 “Then the servant who had been given one ·bag of gold [L talent] came to the master and said, ‘Master, I knew that you were a ·hard [harsh; exacting; demanding] man. You ·harvest things [reap where] you did not ·plant [sow]. You gather crops where you did not sow any seed. 25 So I was afraid and went and hid your ·money [T talent] in the ground. [L See] Here is ·your bag of gold [L what is yours].’ 26 [L But] The master answered, ‘You are a wicked and lazy servant! You say you knew that I ·harvest things [reap where] I did not ·plant [sow] and that I gather crops where I did not sow any seed. 27 So you should have put my ·gold [money] in the bank. Then, when I came home, I would have received ·my gold [what was mine] back with interest.’
28 “·So the master told his other servants, ‘[L Therefore,] Take the ·bag of gold [L talent] from that servant and give it to the servant who has ten ·bags of gold [L talents]. 29 [L For] Those who have much will ·get [be given] more, and they will have ·much more than they need [an abundance]. But those who do not have much will have ·everything [even what they have] taken away from them.’ 30 Then the master said, ‘Throw that ·useless [worthless] servant ·outside, into the darkness [or into the outer darkness,] where ·people will cry and grind their teeth with pain [T there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth; C indicating agony and remorse].
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