"Behold,I Myselfhave takenyour fellowLevitesfrom amongthe sonsof Israel;they are a giftto you, dedicatedto the LORD,to performthe servicefor the tentof meeting.
"Behold,I, even I am bringingthe floodof waterupon the earth,to destroyallfleshin whichis the breathof life,from underheaven;everythingthat is on the earthshall perish.
"Now behold,I Myselfdo establishMy covenantwith you, and with your descendantsafteryou;
"As for Me, behold,I will hardenthe heartsof the Egyptiansso that they will goin afterthem; and I will be honoredthrough Pharaohand allhis army,through his chariotsand his horsemen.
"And behold,I Myselfhave appointedwith him Oholiab,the sonof Ahisamach,of the tribeof Dan;and in the heartsof allwhoare skillfulI have putskill,that they may makeallthat I have commandedyou:
"I, even I, have spoken;indeedI have calledhim, I have broughthim, and He will makehis wayssuccessful.
"I, even I, am He who comfortsyou. Whoare you that you are afraidof manwho diesAnd of the sonof manwho is madelike grass,
For thussaysthe LordGOD,"Behold,I Myselfwill searchfor My sheepand seekthem out.
Therefore,thussaysthe LordGODto them, "Behold,I, even I, will judgebetweenthe fatsheepand the leansheep.
"Now, behold,I have takenthe Levitesfrom amongthe sonsof Israelinsteadof everyfirstborn,the firstissueof the wombamongthe sonsof Israel.So the Levitesshall be Mine.
"For allthe firstbornare Mine; on the daythat I struckdownallthe firstbornin the landof Egypt,I sanctifiedto Myself allthe firstbornin Israel,from manto beast.They shall be Mine; I am the LORD."
"Takethe Levitesinsteadof allthe firstbornamong the sonsof Israeland the cattleof the Levites.And the Levitesshall be Mine; I am the LORD.
"Bringthe tribeof Levinearand setthem beforeAaronthe priest,that they may servehim.
"You shall thus givethe Levitesto Aaronand to his sons;they are whollygivento him from among the sonsof Israel.
