10-14 “The Levites who walked off and left me, along with everyone else—all Israel—who took up with all the no-god idols, will pay for everything they did wrong. From now on they’ll do only the menial work in the Sanctuary: guard the gates and help out with the Temple chores—and also kill the sacrificial animals for the people and serve them. Because they acted as priests to the no-god idols and made my people Israel stumble and fall, I’ve taken an oath to punish them. Decree of God, the Master. Yes, they’ll pay for what they’ve done. They’re fired from the priesthood. No longer will they come into my presence and take care of my holy things. No more access to The Holy Place! They’ll have to live with what they’ve done, carry the shame of their vile and obscene lives. From now on, their job is to sweep up and run errands. That’s it.

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10 “‘The Levites who went far from me when Israel went astray(A) and who wandered from me after their idols must bear the consequences of their sin.(B) 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(C) and sacrifices for the people and stand before the people and serve them.(D) 12 But because they served them in the presence of their idols and made the people of Israel fall(E) into sin, therefore I have sworn with uplifted hand(F) that they must bear the consequences of their sin, declares the Sovereign Lord.(G)

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