8
You did not take care of my holy things yourselves but put foreigners in charge of my Temple.
9
This is what the Lord God says: Foreigners who are not circumcised in flesh and who do not give themselves to serving me may not enter my Temple. Not even a foreigner living among the people of Israel may enter.
10
"'But the Levites who stopped obeying me when Israel left me and who followed their idols must be punished for their sin.
11
These Levites are to be servants in my Holy Place. They may guard the gates of the Temple and serve in the Temple area. They may kill the animals for the burnt offering and the sacrifices for the people. They may stand before the people to serve them.
12
But these Levites helped the people worship their idols and caused the people of Israel to fall, so I make this promise: They will be punished for their sin, says the Lord God.
13
They will not come near me to serve as priests, nor will they come near any of my holy things or the most holy offerings. But they will be made ashamed of the things they did that I hate.
14
I will put them in charge of taking care of the Temple area, all the work that must be done in it.
15
"'But the priests who are Levites and descendants of Zadok took care of my Holy Place when Israel left me, so they may come near to serve me. They may stand in my presence to offer me the fat and blood of the animals they sacrifice, says the Lord God.
16
They are the only ones who may enter my Holy Place. Only they may come near my table to serve me and take care of the things I gave them to do.
17
"'When they enter the gates of the inner courtyard, they must wear linen robes. They must not wear wool to serve at the gates of the inner courtyard or in the Temple.
18
They will wear linen turbans on their heads and linen underclothes. They will not wear anything that makes them perspire.