“ But the priests must approach me to serve me. They are Levites from Zadok’s family line. They guarded my temple when the people of Israel turned away from me. These priests must serve me by offering sacrifices of fat and blood,” announces the Lord and King.

“以色列人走迷离开我的时候，祭司利未人撒督的子孙仍看守我的圣所。他们必亲近我，侍奉我，并且侍立在我面前，将脂油与血献给我。这是主耶和华说的。

“以色列人走迷离开我的时候，利未家的祭司撒督的子孙仍然尽看守我圣所的职责；因此他们必亲近我，事奉我，并且侍立在我面前，把脂肪与血献给我。这是主耶和华说的。

“以色列人走迷离开我的时候，利未家的祭司撒督的子孙仍然尽看守我圣所的职责；因此他们必亲近我，事奉我，并且侍立在我面前，把脂肪与血献给我。这是主耶和华说的。

“‘以色列人走入歧途时，利未人撒督的子孙仍然在我的圣所尽忠职守，因此他们可以接近我、事奉我，侍立在我面前，献上脂肪和祭牲的血。这是主耶和华说的。

“以色列人走迷了路，离开我的时候，有祭司利未人，就是撒督的子孙，仍然看守我的圣所；只有他们可以亲近我，事奉我，侍立在我面前，把脂肪和血献给我。这是主耶和华的宣告。

「以色列人走迷離開我的時候，祭司利未人撒督的子孫仍看守我的聖所。他們必親近我，事奉我，並且侍立在我面前，將脂油與血獻給我。這是主耶和華說的。

「以色列人走迷離開我的時候，利未家的祭司撒督的子孫仍然盡看守我聖所的職責；因此他們必親近我，事奉我，並且侍立在我面前，把脂肪與血獻給我。這是主耶和華說的。

「以色列人走迷離開我的時候，利未家的祭司撒督的子孫仍然盡看守我聖所的職責；因此他們必親近我，事奉我，並且侍立在我面前，把脂肪與血獻給我。這是主耶和華說的。

「『以色列人走入歧途時，利未人撒督的子孫仍然在我的聖所盡忠職守，因此他們可以接近我、事奉我，侍立在我面前，獻上脂肪和祭牲的血。這是主耶和華說的。

“以色列人走迷了路，離開我的時候，有祭司利未人，就是撒督的子孫，仍然看守我的聖所；只有他們可以親近我，事奉我，侍立在我面前，把脂肪和血獻給我。這是主耶和華的宣告。

『但是撒督子孫作祭司的利未人、那當以色列人走迷了路離開我的時候、曾經守盡我聖所之職守的，他們卻可以親近我來伺候我，可以侍立在我面前，將脂肪和血獻與我：這是主永恆主發神諭說的。

主耶和華曰、昔以色列族迷途離我時、利未人祭司、撒督之裔、尚守我聖所者、可近而奉事我、侍立我前、獻脂與血於我、

主耶和華曰、昔以色列族背我、利未後裔撒督子孫、咸為祭司、守我聖所、彼可詣前、以奉事我、獻脂與血、

惟利未人為祭司、屬撒督之子孫者、可詣前以奉事我、昔以色列族迷罔背我時、彼仍於我聖所公職、今可立於我前、獻脂與血於我、此乃主天主所言、

“‘ But the Levitical priests, who are descendants of Zadok and who guarded my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, are to come near to minister before me; they are to stand before me to offer sacrifices of fat and blood, declares the Sovereign Lord.

“ But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, shall come near to me to minister to me. And they shall stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood, declares the Lord God.

“ However, the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok continued to minister faithfully in the Temple when Israel abandoned me for idols. These men will serve as my ministers. They will stand in my presence and offer the fat and blood of the sacrifices, says the Sovereign Lord.

“ But the Levitical priests descended from Zadok, who kept charge of my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, will approach me to serve me. They will stand before me to offer me fat and blood.” This is the declaration of the Lord GOD.

“ But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who took responsibility for My sanctuary when the sons of Israel went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to serve Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer Me the fat and the blood,” declares the Lord God.

“ But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood,” says the Lord GOD.

But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me; and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord Jehovah:

“ But the Levitical priests descended from Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from Me, will approach Me to serve Me. They will stand before Me to offer Me fat and blood.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.

But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:

“‘ But the Levitical priests, the descendants of Zadok who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, will approach me to minister to me; they will stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood, declares the sovereign LORD.

“‘“ But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who performed the duty of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, shall come near to me to minister to me. They shall stand before me to offer to me the fat and the blood,” says the Lord Yahweh.

This share of land will be for the priests who are set apart to me. They will come from the family line of Zadok. The members of that family served me faithfully. They did not go astray as the Levites and other Israelites did.

You brought outsiders into my temple. They were not circumcised. Their hearts were stubborn. You made my temple‘ unclean.’ But you offered me food, fat and blood anyway. When you did all these things, you broke the covenant I made with you. I hated all the evil things you did.

Give a young bull to the priests as a sin offering. They are Levites from the family of Zadok. They approach me to serve me,’ announces the Lord and King.

The one that faces north is for the priests who guard the altar. All these priests are the sons of Zadok. They are the only Levites who can approach the Lord to serve him.”

Then the Lord showed me Joshua the high priest. He was standing in front of the angel of the Lord. Satan was standing to the right of Joshua. He was there to bring charges against the high priest.The Lord said to Satan,“ May the Lord correct you! He has chosen Jerusalem. So may he correct you! Isn’t this man Joshua like a burning stick pulled out of the fire?”Joshua stood in front of the angel. He was wearing clothes that were very dirty.The angel spoke to those who were standing near him. He said,“ Take his dirty clothes off.” He said to Joshua,“ I have taken your sin away. I will put fine clothes on you.”I added,“ Put a clean turban on his head.” So they did. And they dressed him while the angel of the Lord stood by.Then the angel spoke to Joshua. He said,“ The Lord who rules over all says,‘ You must obey me. You must do what I have commanded. Then you will rule in my temple. You will be in charge of my courtyards. And I will give you a place among these who are standing here.

The Israelites are now making sacrifices in the open fields. But they must bring their sacrifices to the priest. They must bring them to me at the entrance to the tent of meeting. There they must sacrifice them as friendship offerings.The priest must splash the blood against my altar. It is the altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He must burn the fat. Its smell will please me.

At that time the Lord set the tribe of Levi apart. He appointed them to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord. He wanted them to serve him. He told them to bless the people in his name. And they still do it today.

Then the priest must burn the offering on the altar as food. It is a food offering. It has a pleasant smell. All the fat belongs to the Lord.“‘ You must not eat any fat or any blood. That is a law that will last for all time to come. It applies no matter where you live.’ ”

“ Here is what I command you to write to the church in Ephesus. Here are the words of Jesus, who holds the seven stars in his right hand. He also walks among the seven golden lampstands. He says,

He must not get drunk. He must not push people around. He must be gentle. He must not be a person who likes to argue. He must not love money.He must manage his own family well. He must make sure that his children obey him. And he must do this in a way that gains him respect.Suppose someone doesn’t know how to manage his own family. Then how can he take care of God’s church?The leader must not be a new believer. If he is, he might become proud. Then he would be judged just like the devil.The leader must also be respected by those who are outside the church. Then he will not be put to shame. He will not fall into the devil’s trap.In the same way, deacons must be worthy of respect. They must be honest and true. They must not drink too much wine. They must not try to get money by cheating people.They must hold on to the deep truths of the faith. Even their own minds tell them to do that.First they must be tested. Then let them serve as deacons if there is nothing against them.

“ Here is what I command you to write to the church in Laodicea. Here are the words of Jesus, who is the Amen. What he speaks is faithful and true. He rules over what God has created. He says,

The priests, who are Levites, will always have a man to serve me. He will sacrifice burnt offerings. He will burn grain offerings. And he will offer sacrifices.”

“ Here is what I command you to write to the church in Thyatira. Here are the words of the Son of God. He is Jesus, whose eyes are like blazing fire. His feet are like polished bronze. He says,

You have heard me teach in front of many witnesses. Pass on to people you can trust the things you’ve heard me say. Then they will be able to teach others also.

“ Here is what I command you to write to the church in Philadelphia. Here are the words of Jesus, who is holy and true. He holds the key of David. No one can shut what he opens. And no one can open what he shuts. He says,

“ Here is what I command you to write to the church in Pergamum. Here are the words of Jesus, who has the sharp sword with two edges. He says,

Whoever has ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

“ Some Levites wandered far away from me when Israel went astray. They worshiped the statues of their gods. So they will be punished because they have sinned.

“ Here is what I command you to write to the church in Smyrna. Here are the words of Jesus, who is the First and the Last. He is the one who died and came to life again. He says,

The king put Benaiah in charge of the army. Benaiah took Joab’s place. The king also put Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.

“ Here is what I command you to write to the church in Sardis. Here are the words of Jesus, who holds the seven spirits of God. He has the seven stars in his hand. He says,‘ I know what you are doing. People think you are alive, but you are dead.

I will raise up for myself a faithful priest. He will do what my heart and mind want him to do. I will make his family line of priests very secure. They will always serve as priests to my anointed king.