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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ezekiel 44 NLT</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/ezekiel/44.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/ezekiel/44-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NLT</a> > Ezekiel 44</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../ezekiel/43.htm" title="Ezekiel 43">◄</a> Ezekiel 44 <a href="../ezekiel/45.htm" title="Ezekiel 45">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Living Translation</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nlt/esv/ezekiel/44.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="hdg">The Prince, Levites, and Priests</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Then the man brought me back to the east gateway in the outer wall of the Temple area, but it was closed. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>And the LORD said to me, “This gate must remain closed; it will never again be opened. No one will ever open it and pass through, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered here. Therefore, it must always remain shut. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Only the prince himself may sit inside this gateway to feast in the LORD’s presence. But he may come and go only through the entry room of the gateway.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Then the man brought me through the north gateway to the front of the Temple. I looked and saw that the glory of the LORD filled the Temple of the LORD, and I fell face down on the ground.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>And the LORD said to me, “Son of man, take careful notice. Use your eyes and ears, and listen to everything I tell you about the regulations concerning the LORD’s Temple. Take careful note of the procedures for using the Temple’s entrances and exits. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>And give these rebels, the people of Israel, this message from the Sovereign LORD: O people of Israel, enough of your detestable sins! <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>You have brought uncircumcised foreigners into my sanctuary—people who have no heart for God. In this way, you defiled my Temple even as you offered me my food, the fat and blood of sacrifices. In addition to all your other detestable sins, you have broken my covenant. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Instead of safeguarding my sacred rituals, you have hired foreigners to take charge of my sanctuary.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>“So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: No foreigners, including those who live among the people of Israel, will enter my sanctuary if they have not been circumcised and have not surrendered themselves to the LORD. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>And the men of the tribe of Levi who abandoned me when Israel strayed away from me to worship idols<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">a</span></a> must bear the consequences of their unfaithfulness. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>They may still be Temple guards and gatekeepers, and they may slaughter the animals brought for burnt offerings and be present to help the people. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>But they encouraged my people to worship idols, causing Israel to fall into deep sin. So I have taken a solemn oath that they must bear the consequences for their sins, says the Sovereign LORD. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>They may not approach me to minister as priests. They may not touch any of my holy things or the holy offerings, for they must bear the shame of all the detestable sins they have committed. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>They are to serve as the Temple caretakers, taking charge of the maintenance work and performing general duties.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>“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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>They alone will enter my sanctuary and approach my table to serve me. They will fulfill all my requirements.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>“When they enter the gateway to the inner courtyard, they must wear only linen clothing. They must wear no wool while on duty in the inner courtyard or in the Temple itself. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>They must wear linen turbans and linen undergarments. They must not wear anything that would cause them to perspire. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>When they return to the outer courtyard where the people are, they must take off the clothes they wear while ministering to me. They must leave them in the sacred rooms and put on other clothes so they do not endanger anyone by transmitting holiness to them through this clothing.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>“They must neither shave their heads nor let their hair grow too long. Instead, they must trim it regularly. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>The priests must not drink wine before entering the inner courtyard. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>They may choose their wives only from among the virgins of Israel or the widows of the priests. They may not marry other widows or divorced women. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>They will teach my people the difference between what is holy and what is common, what is ceremonially clean and unclean.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>“They will serve as judges to resolve any disagreements among my people. Their decisions must be based on my regulations. And the priests themselves must obey my instructions and decrees at all the sacred festivals, and see to it that the Sabbaths are set apart as holy days.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>“A priest must not defile himself by being in the presence of a dead person unless it is his father, mother, child, brother, or unmarried sister. In such cases it is permitted. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>Even then, he can return to his Temple duties only after being ceremonially cleansed and then waiting for seven days. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>The first day he returns to work and enters the inner courtyard and the sanctuary, he must offer a sin offering for himself, says the Sovereign LORD.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>“The priests will not have any property or possession of land, for I alone am their special possession. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Their food will come from the gifts and sacrifices brought to the Temple by the people—the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. Whatever anyone sets apart<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">b</span></a> for the LORD will belong to the priests. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>The first of the ripe fruits and all the gifts brought to the LORD will go to the priests. The first batch of dough must also be given to the priests so the LORD will bless your homes. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>The priests may not eat meat from any bird or animal that dies a natural death or that dies after being attacked by another animal.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn">a</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">44:10 </span><span class="ft">The Hebrew term (literally </span><span class="it">round things</span><span class="ft">) probably alludes to dung; also in 44:12.</span><br><span class="fn">b</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">44:29 </span><span class="ft">The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the </span><span class="sc">Lord</span><span class="ft">, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.</span><br></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. 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