The Sovereign LORD said, "Those priests belonging to the tribe of Levi who are descended from Zadok, however, continued to serve me faithfully in the Temple when the rest of the people of Israel turned away from me. So now they are the ones who are to serve me and come into my presence to offer me the fat and the blood of the sacrifices.

The priests break my law and have no respect for what is holy. They make no distinction between what is holy and what is not. They do not teach the difference between clean and unclean things, and they ignore the Sabbath. As a result the people of Israel do not respect me.

This holy area is to be for the priests who are descendants of Zadok. They served me faithfully and did not join the rest of the Israelites in doing wrong, as the other members of the tribe of Levi did.

He brought to Jerusalem the priests who were in the cities of Judah, and throughout the whole country he desecrated the altars where they had offered sacrifices. He also tore down the altars dedicated to the goat demons near the gate built by Joshua, the city governor, which was to the left of the main gate as one enters the city.

Those priests were not allowed to serve in the Temple, but they could eat the unleavened bread provided for their fellow priests.

He assembled a group of priests and Levites in the east courtyard of the Temple

and spoke to them there. He said, "You Levites are to consecrate yourselves and purify the Temple of the LORD, the God of your ancestors. Remove from the Temple everything that defiles it.

Our ancestors, our kings, leaders, and priests have not kept your Law. They did not listen to your commands and warnings.

The LORD says, "The prophets and the priests are godless; I have caught them doing evil in the Temple itself.

The prophets are irresponsible and treacherous; the priests defile what is sacred, and twist the law of God to their own advantage.

Be in no hurry to lay hands on people to dedicate them to the Lord's service. Take no part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

And Cain said to the LORD, "This punishment is too hard for me to bear.

Any who eat it will be guilty of treating as ordinary what is dedicated to me, and they will no longer be considered my people.

The husband shall be free of guilt, but the woman, if guilty, must suffer the consequences.

I am drowning in the flood of my sins; they are a burden too heavy to bear.

After a life of suffering, he will again have joy; he will know that he did not suffer in vain. My devoted servant, with whom I am pleased, will bear the punishment of many and for his sake I will forgive them.