"So you shall attendto the obligationsof the sanctuaryand the obligationsof the altar,so that there will nolongerbe wrathon the sonsof Israel.
Thesewere the sonsof Leviaccording to their fathers'households,[even] the headsof the fathers'[households] of those of them who were counted,in the numberof namesby their census,doingthe workfor the serviceof the houseof the LORD,from twentyyearsoldand upward.
Thus they are to keepchargeof the tentof meeting,and chargeof the holyplace, and chargeof the sonsof Aarontheir relatives,for the serviceof the houseof the LORD.
Thus they were dividedby lot,the oneas the other;for they were officersof the sanctuaryand officersof God,both from the descendantsof Eleazarand the descendantsof Ithamar.
Shallumthe sonof Kore,the sonof Ebiasaph,the sonof Korah,and his relativesof his father'shouse,the Korahites,[were] overthe workof the service,keepersof the thresholdsof the tent;and their fathershad been overthe campof the LORD,keepersof the entrance.
So they and their sonshad chargeof the gatesof the houseof the LORD,[even] the houseof the tent,as guards.
Now theseare the singers,headsof fathers'[households] of the Levites,[who lived] in the chambers[of the temple] free[from other service]; for they were engagedin their workdayand night.
"In the tentof meeting,outsidethe veilwhichis beforethe testimony,Aaronand his sonsshall keepit in orderfrom eveningto morningbeforethe LORD;[it shall be] a perpetualstatutethroughout their generationsfor the sonsof Israel.
"Thereforethussaysthe LORDof hostsconcerningthe prophets,'Behold,I am going to feedthem wormwoodAnd make them drinkpoisonouswater,For from the prophetsof JerusalemPollutionhas goneforthinto allthe land.'"
"But the Leviticalpriests,the sonsof Zadok,whokeptchargeof My sanctuarywhen the sonsof Israelwentastrayfrom Me, shall comenearto Me to ministerto Me; and they shall standbeforeMe to offerMe the fatand the blood,"declaresthe LordGOD.
"They shall enterMy sanctuary;they shall comenearto My tableto ministerto Me and keepMy charge.
Then Mosessaidto Aaronand to his sonsEleazarand Ithamar,"Do not uncoveryour headsnortearyour clothes,so that you will not dieand that He will not becomewrathfulagainstallthe congregation.But your kinsmen,the wholehouseof Israel,shall bewailthe burningwhichthe LORDhas broughtabout.
"Outsidethe veilof testimonyin the tentof meeting,Aaronshall keepit in orderfrom eveningto morningbeforethe LORDcontinually;[it shall be] a perpetualstatutethroughout your generations.
"My angeris kindledagainstthe shepherds,And I will punishthe malegoats;For the LORDof hostshas visitedHis flock,the houseof Judah,And will makethem like His majestichorsein battle.
"But you shall appointthe Levitesoverthe tabernacleof the testimony,and overallits furnishingsand overallthat belongs to it. They shall carrythe tabernacleand allits furnishings,and they shall takecareof it; they shall also camparoundthe tabernacle.
"But the Levitesshall camparoundthe tabernacleof the testimony,so that there will be nowrathon the congregationof the sonsof Israel.So the Levitesshall keepchargeof the tabernacleof the testimony."
Mosessaidto Aaron,"Takeyour censerand putin it firefrom the altar,and layincense[on it]; then bringit quicklyto the congregationand makeatonementfor them, for wrathhas goneforthfrom the LORD,the plaguehas begun!"
"They shall be joinedwith you and attendto the obligationsof the tentof meeting,for allthe serviceof the tent;but an outsidermay not comenearyou.
"Do not let the tribeof the familiesof the Kohathitesbe cutofffrom amongthe Levites.
"I have giventhe Levitesas a giftto Aaronand to his sonsfrom amongthe sonsof Israel,to performthe serviceof the sonsof Israelat the tentof meetingand to makeatonementon behalfof the sonsof Israel,so that there will be noplagueamong the sonsof Israelby their comingnearto the sanctuary."
"Speakto Aaronand sayto him, 'When you mountthe lamps,the sevenlampswill givelightin the frontof the lampstand.'"
ThiscommandI entrustto you, Timothy,[my] son,in accordancewith the propheciespreviously madeconcerningyou, that by them you fightthe goodfight,
but in caseI am delayed,[I write] sothat you will knowhowone oughtto conducthimself in the householdof God,whichis the churchof the livingGod,the pillarand supportof the truth.
I solemnly chargeyou in the presenceof Godand of ChristJesusand of [His] chosenangels,to maintainthese[principles] withoutbias,doingnothingin a [spirit of] partiality.
OTimothy,guardwhat has been entrustedto you, avoidingworldly[and] empty chatter[and] the opposing argumentsof what is falsely called"knowledge"--
