THE PRIESTS’ DUTIES AND PRIVILEGES

15 “But the Levitical priests descended from Zadok,ak who kept charge of my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, will approach me to serve me. They will stand before me to offer me fat and blood.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. 16 “They are the ones who may enter my sanctuarya and approach my table to serve me.b They will keep my mandate. 17 When they enter the gates of the inner court they are to wear linen garments;c they must not have on them anything made of wool when they minister at the gates of the inner court and within it. 18 They are to wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists.d They are not to put on anything that makes them sweat. 19 Before they go out to the outer court,A to the people, they must take off the clothes they have been ministering in, leave them in the holy chambers, and dress in other clothese so that they do not transmit holiness to the people through their clothes.f

20 “They may not shave their headsg or let their hair grow long,h but are to carefully trim their hair. 21 No priest may drink wine before he enters the inner court.i 22 He is not to marry a widow or a divorced woman, but may marry only a virgin from the offspring of the house of Israel,j or a widow who is the widow of a priest. 23 They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and explain to them the difference between the clean and the unclean.k

24 “In a dispute, they will officiate as judges and decide the case according to my ordinances.l They are to observe my laws and statutes regarding all my appointed festivals, and keep my Sabbaths holy.m 25 A priest may not come near a dead person so that he becomes defiled.n However, he may defile himself for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister. 26 After he is cleansed, he is to count off seven days for himself.o 27 On the day he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner courtp to minister in the sanctuary, he is to present his sin offering.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.

28 “This will be their inheritance: I am their inheritance.q You are to give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession. 29 They will eat the grain offering, the sin offering,r and the guilt offering. Everything in Israel that is permanently dedicated to the Lord will belong to them.s 30 The best of all the firstfruits of every kind and contribution of every kind from all your gifts will belong to the priests.t You are to give your first batch of dough to the priestu so that a blessing may rest on your homes.v 31 The priests may not eat any bird or animal that died naturally or was mauled by wild beasts.w