Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A psalm of David. A song for setting apart the completed temple to God.

Rules About Skin Diseases

13 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He told them to say to the people, ² “Suppose someone’s skin has a swelling or a rash or a shiny spot. And suppose it could become a skin disease. Then they must be brought to the priest Aaron. Or they must be brought to a priest in Aaron’s family line. ³ The priest must look carefully at the sore on the person’s skin. He must see whether the hair in the sore has turned white. He must also see whether the sore seems to be under the skin. If the sore is white and is under the skin, it is a skin disease. When the priest looks that person over carefully, he must announce that the person is ‘unclean.’ ⁴ Suppose the shiny spot on the skin is white but does not seem to be under the skin. And suppose the hair in the spot has not turned white. Then the priest must make the person stay away from everyone else for seven days. ⁵ On the seventh day the priest must look carefully at the sore again. Suppose it has not changed and has not spread in the skin. Then the priest must make the person stay away from everyone else for another seven days. ⁶ On the seventh day the priest must look carefully at the sore again. If it has faded and has not spread, he must announce that the person is ‘clean.’ It is only a rash. That person must wash their clothes. They will be ‘clean.’ ⁷ But suppose the rash spreads in the skin after they have shown themselves to the priest a second time. Then they must appear in front of the priest again. ⁸ The priest must look carefully at the sore. If the rash has spread, he must announce that the person is ‘unclean.’ They have a skin disease.

⁹ “When anyone has a skin disease, they must be brought to the priest. ¹⁰ The priest must look them over carefully. Suppose there is a white swelling in the skin. Suppose it has turned the hair white. And suppose there are open sores in the swelling. ¹¹ Then the person has a skin disease that will never go away. The priest must announce that they are ‘unclean.’ The priest must not make them stay away from everyone else. They are already ‘unclean.’

¹² “Suppose the disease breaks out all over their skin. And suppose it covers them from head to foot, as far as the priest can tell. ¹³ Then the priest must look them over carefully. If the disease has covered their whole body, the priest must announce that they are ‘clean.’ All their skin has turned white. So they are ‘clean.’ ¹⁴ But when open sores appear on their skin, they will not be ‘clean.’ ¹⁵ When the priest sees the open sores, he must announce that they are ‘unclean.’ The open sores are not ‘clean.’ They have a skin disease. ¹⁶ But if the open sores change and turn white, they must go to the priest. ¹⁷ The priest must look them over carefully. If the sores have turned white, the priest must announce that the person is ‘clean.’ Then they will be ‘clean.’

⁷ Put up with hard times. God uses them to train you. He is treating you as his children. What children are not trained by their parents? ⁸ God trains all his children. But what if he doesn’t train you? Then you are not really his children. You are not God’s true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Besides, we have all had human fathers who trained us. We respected them for it. How much more should we be trained by the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ Our parents trained us for a little while. They did what they thought was best. But God trains us for our good. He does this so we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No training seems pleasant at the time. In fact, it seems painful. But later on it produces a harvest of godliness and peace. It does this for those who have been trained by it.

¹² So put your hands to work. Strengthen your legs for the journey. ¹³ “Make level paths for your feet to walk on.” (Proverbs 4:26) Then those who have trouble walking won’t be disabled. Instead, they will be healed.