<h3>The Priesthood Restored</h3>44 Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. 2 The Lord said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it. 3 The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the Lord. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way. ” 4 Then the man brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple. I looked and saw the glory of the Lord filling the temple of the Lord, and I fell facedown. 5 The Lord said to me, “Son of man, look carefully, listen closely and give attention to everything I tell you concerning all the regulations and instructions regarding the temple of the Lord. Give attention to the entrance to the temple and all the exits of the sanctuary. 6 Say to rebellious Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Enough of your detestable practices, people of Israel! 7 In addition to all your other detestable practices, you brought foreigners uncircumcised in heart and flesh into my sanctuary, desecrating my temple while you offered me food, fat and blood, and you broke my covenant. 8 Instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuary. 9 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh is to enter my sanctuary, not even the foreigners who live among the Israelites. 10 “‘The Levites who went far from me when Israel went astray and who wandered from me after their idols must bear the consequences of their sin. 11 They may serve in my sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and serving in it; they may slaughter the burnt offerings and sacrifices for the people and stand before the people and serve them. 12 But because they served them in the presence of their idols and made the people of Israel fall into sin, therefore I have sworn with uplifted hand that they must bear the consequences of their sin, declares the Sovereign Lord. 13 They are not to come near to serve me as priests or come near any of my holy things or my most holy offerings; they must bear the shame of their detestable practices. 14 And I will appoint them to guard the temple for all the work that is to be done in it. 15 “‘But the Levitical priests, who are descendants of Zadok and who guarded my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, are to come near to minister before me; they are to stand before me to offer sacrifices of fat and blood, declares the Sovereign Lord. 16 They alone are to enter my sanctuary; they alone are to come near my table to minister before me and serve me as guards. 17 “‘When they enter the gates of the inner court, they are to wear linen clothes; they must not wear any woolen garment while ministering at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple. 18 They are to wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists. They must not wear anything that makes them perspire. 19 When they go out into the outer court where the people are, they are to take off the clothes they have been ministering in and are to leave them in the sacred rooms, and put on other clothes, so that the people are not consecrated through contact with their garments. 20 “‘They must not shave their heads or let their hair grow long, but they are to keep the hair of their heads trimmed. 21 No priest is to drink wine when he enters the inner court. 22 They must not marry widows or divorced women; they may marry only virgins of Israelite descent or widows of priests. 23 They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean. 24 “‘In any dispute, the priests are to serve as judges and decide it according to my ordinances. They are to keep my laws and my decrees for all my appointed festivals, and they are to keep my Sabbaths holy. 25 “‘A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person; however, if the dead person was his father or mother, son or daughter, brother or unmarried sister, then he may defile himself. 26 After he is cleansed, he must wait seven days. 27 On the day he goes into the inner court of the sanctuary to minister in the sanctuary, he is to offer a sin offering for himself, declares the Sovereign Lord. 28 “‘I am to be the only inheritance the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession. 29 They will eat the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings; and everything in Israel devoted to the Lord will belong to them. 30 The best of all the firstfruits and of all your special gifts will belong to the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal so that a blessing may rest on your household. 31 The priests must not eat anything, whether bird or animal, found dead or torn by wild animals.

Ezekiel 44:1

Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east,<cr>1</cr> and it was shut.

The Lord said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it.<cr>1</cr> It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it.

Ezekiel 44:2

The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence<cr>1</cr> of the Lord. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way.<cr>2</cr> ”

Ezekiel 44:3

Then the man brought me by way of the north gate<cr>1</cr> to the front of the temple. I looked and saw the glory of the Lord filling the temple<cr>2</cr> of the Lord, and I fell facedown.<cr>3</cr>

Ezekiel 44:4

The Lord said to me, “Son of man, look carefully, listen closely and give attention to everything I tell you concerning all the regulations and instructions regarding the temple of the Lord. Give attention to the entrance<cr>1</cr> to the temple and all the exits of the sanctuary.<cr>2</cr>

Ezekiel 44:5

Say to rebellious Israel,<cr>1</cr> ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Enough of your detestable practices, people of Israel!

Ezekiel 44:6

In addition to all your other detestable practices, you brought foreigners uncircumcised in heart<cr>1</cr> and flesh into my sanctuary, desecrating my temple while you offered me food, fat and blood, and you broke my covenant.<cr>2</cr>

Ezekiel 44:7

Instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuary.<cr>1</cr>

Ezekiel 44:8

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh is to enter my sanctuary, not even the foreigners who live among the Israelites.<cr>1</cr>

Ezekiel 44:9

“‘The Levites who went far from me when Israel went astray<cr>1</cr> and who wandered from me after their idols must bear the consequences of their sin.<cr>2</cr>

Ezekiel 44:10

They may serve in my sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and serving in it; they may slaughter the burnt offerings<cr>1</cr> and sacrifices for the people and stand before the people and serve them.<cr>2</cr>

Ezekiel 44:11

But because they served them in the presence of their idols and made the people of Israel fall<cr>1</cr> into sin, therefore I have sworn with uplifted hand<cr>2</cr> that they must bear the consequences of their sin, declares the Sovereign Lord.<cr>3</cr>

Ezekiel 44:12

They are not to come near to serve me as priests or come near any of my holy things or my most holy offerings; they must bear the shame<cr>1</cr> of their detestable practices.<cr>2</cr>

Ezekiel 44:13

And I will appoint them to guard the temple for all the work that is to be done in it.<cr>1</cr>

Ezekiel 44:14

“‘But the Levitical priests, who are descendants of Zadok<cr>1</cr> and who guarded my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, are to come near to minister before me; they are to stand before me to offer sacrifices of fat<cr>2</cr> and blood, declares the Sovereign Lord.<cr>3</cr>

Ezekiel 44:15

They alone are to enter my sanctuary; they alone are to come near my table<cr>1</cr> to minister before me and serve me as guards.<cr>2</cr>

Ezekiel 44:16

“‘When they enter the gates of the inner court, they are to wear linen clothes;<cr>1</cr> they must not wear any woolen garment while ministering at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple.

Ezekiel 44:17

They are to wear linen turbans<cr>1</cr> on their heads and linen undergarments<cr>2</cr> around their waists. They must not wear anything that makes them perspire.<cr>3</cr>

Ezekiel 44:18

When they go out into the outer court where the people are, they are to take off the clothes they have been ministering in and are to leave them in the sacred rooms, and put on other clothes, so that the people are not consecrated<cr>1</cr> through contact with their garments.<cr>2</cr>

Ezekiel 44:19

“‘They must not shave<cr>1</cr> their heads or let their hair grow long, but they are to keep the hair of their heads trimmed.<cr>2</cr>

Ezekiel 44:20

No priest is to drink wine when he enters the inner court.<cr>1</cr>

Ezekiel 44:21

They must not marry widows or divorced women; they may marry only virgins of Israelite descent or widows of priests.<cr>1</cr>

Ezekiel 44:22

They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common<cr>1</cr> and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.<cr>2</cr>

Ezekiel 44:23

“‘In any dispute, the priests are to serve as judges<cr>1</cr> and decide it according to my ordinances. They are to keep my laws and my decrees for all my appointed festivals,<cr>2</cr> and they are to keep my Sabbaths holy.<cr>3</cr>

Ezekiel 44:24

“‘A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person; however, if the dead person was his father or mother, son or daughter, brother or unmarried sister, then he may defile himself.<cr>1</cr>

Ezekiel 44:25

After he is cleansed, he must wait seven days.<cr>1</cr>

Ezekiel 44:26

On the day he goes into the inner court of the sanctuary<cr>1</cr> to minister in the sanctuary, he is to offer a sin offering<ft>1</ft><cr>2</cr> for himself, declares the Sovereign Lord.

Ezekiel 44:27

“‘I am to be the only inheritance<cr>1</cr> the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession.

Ezekiel 44:28

They will eat<cr>1</cr> the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings; and everything in Israel devoted<ft>1</ft> to the Lord<cr>2</cr> will belong to them.<cr>3</cr>

Ezekiel 44:29

The best of all the firstfruits<cr>1</cr> and of all your special gifts will belong to the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal<cr>2</cr> so that a blessing<cr>3</cr> may rest on your household.<cr>4</cr>

Ezekiel 44:30

The priests must not eat anything, whether bird or animal, found dead<cr>1</cr> or torn by wild animals.<cr>2</cr>

Ezekiel 44:31

 1 Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east,   and it was shut. 2 The Lord said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it.   It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it. 3 The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence   of the Lord. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way.  ” 4 Then the man brought me by way of the north gate   to the front of the temple. I looked and saw the glory of the Lord filling the temple   of the Lord, and I fell facedown.   5 The Lord said to me, “Son of man, look carefully, listen closely and give attention to everything I tell you concerning all the regulations and instructions regarding the temple of the Lord. Give attention to the entrance   to the temple and all the exits of the sanctuary.   6 Say to rebellious Israel,   ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Enough of your detestable practices, people of Israel! 7 In addition to all your other detestable practices, you brought foreigners uncircumcised in heart   and flesh into my sanctuary, desecrating my temple while you offered me food, fat and blood, and you broke my covenant.   8 Instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuary.   9 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh is to enter my sanctuary, not even the foreigners who live among the Israelites.   10 “‘The Levites who went far from me when Israel went astray   and who wandered from me after their idols must bear the consequences of their sin.   11 They may serve in my sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and serving in it; they may slaughter the burnt offerings   and sacrifices for the people and stand before the people and serve them.   12 But because they served them in the presence of their idols and made the people of Israel fall   into sin, therefore I have sworn with uplifted hand   that they must bear the consequences of their sin, declares the Sovereign Lord.   13 They are not to come near to serve me as priests or come near any of my holy things or my most holy offerings; they must bear the shame   of their detestable practices.   14 And I will appoint them to guard the temple for all the work that is to be done in it.   15 “‘But the Levitical priests, who are descendants of Zadok   and who guarded my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, are to come near to minister before me; they are to stand before me to offer sacrifices of fat   and blood, declares the Sovereign Lord.   16 They alone are to enter my sanctuary; they alone are to come near my table   to minister before me and serve me as guards.   17 “‘When they enter the gates of the inner court, they are to wear linen clothes;   they must not wear any woolen garment while ministering at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple. 18 They are to wear linen turbans   on their heads and linen undergarments   around their waists. They must not wear anything that makes them perspire.   19 When they go out into the outer court where the people are, they are to take off the clothes they have been ministering in and are to leave them in the sacred rooms, and put on other clothes, so that the people are not consecrated   through contact with their garments.   20 “‘They must not shave   their heads or let their hair grow long, but they are to keep the hair of their heads trimmed.   21 No priest is to drink wine when he enters the inner court.   22 They must not marry widows or divorced women; they may marry only virgins of Israelite descent or widows of priests.   23 They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common   and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.   24 “‘In any dispute, the priests are to serve as judges   and decide it according to my ordinances. They are to keep my laws and my decrees for all my appointed festivals,   and they are to keep my Sabbaths holy.   25 “‘A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person; however, if the dead person was his father or mother, son or daughter, brother or unmarried sister, then he may defile himself.   26 After he is cleansed, he must wait seven days.   27 On the day he goes into the inner court of the sanctuary   to minister in the sanctuary, he is to offer a sin offering    for himself, declares the Sovereign Lord. 28 “‘I am to be the only inheritance   the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession. 29 They will eat   the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings; and everything in Israel devoted  to the Lord   will belong to them.   30 The best of all the firstfruits   and of all your special gifts will belong to the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal   so that a blessing   may rest on your household.   31 The priests must not eat anything, whether bird or animal, found dead   or torn by wild animals.  

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

ezekiel44 - NIV

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