then boththe menwhohave the disputeshall standbeforethe LORD,beforethe priestsand the judgeswhowill be [in office] in thosedays.
then his mastershall bringhim to God,then he shall bringhim to the doororthe doorpost.And his mastershall piercehis earwith an awl;and he shall servehim permanently.
"Ifthe thiefis not caught,then the ownerof the houseshall appearbeforethe judges,[to] determine whetherhe laidhis handson his neighbor'sproperty.
"In a disputethey shall taketheir standto judge;they shall judgeit according to My ordinances.They shall also keepMy lawsand My statutesin allMy appointedfeastsand sanctifyMy sabbaths.
"For the lipsof a priestshould preserveknowledge,and men should seekinstructionfrom his mouth;for he is the messengerof the LORDof hosts.
"You shall appointfor yourself judgesand officersin allyour townswhichthe LORDyour Godis givingyou, according to your tribes,and they shall judgethe peoplewith righteousjudgment.
"So you shall cometo the Leviticalpriestor the judgewhois [in office] in thosedays,and you shall inquire[of them] and they will declareto you the verdictin the case.
"Then the priests,the sonsof Levi,shall comenear,for the LORDyour Godhas chosenthem to serveHim and to blessin the nameof the LORD;and everydisputeand everyassaultshall be settledby them.
"Ifthere is a disputebetweenmenand they goto court,and the judgesdecidetheir case, and they justifythe righteousand condemnthe wicked,
