Ezekiel 43:18-27

Contemporary English Version

The Dedication of the Altar

^18 (A) The Lord God said:

Ezekiel, son of man, after the altar is built, it must be dedicated by offering sacrifices on it and by splattering it with blood. Here is what you must do: ¹⁹ The priests of the Levi tribe from the family of Zadok the priest are the only ones who may serve in my temple—this is my law. So give them a young bull to slaughter as a sacrifice for sin. ²⁰ Take some of the animal's blood and smear it on the four corners of the altar, some on the corners of the middle section, and some more on the rim around its edge. That will purify the altar and make it fit for offering sacrifices to me. ²¹ Then take the body of the bull outside the temple area and burn it at the special place.

²² The next day, a goat^[a] that has nothing wrong with it must be offered as a sacrifice for sin. Purify the altar with its blood, just as you did with the blood of the bull. ²³ Then choose a young bull and a young ram that have nothing wrong with them, ²⁴ and bring them to my temple. The priests will sprinkle salt on them^[b] and offer them as sacrifices to please me.^[c]

²⁵ Each day for the next seven days, you must offer a goat and a bull and a ram as sacrifices for sin. These animals must have nothing wrong with them. ²⁶ The priests will purify the altar during those days, so that it will be acceptable to me and ready to use. ²⁷ From then on, the priests will use this altar to offer sacrifices to please me and sacrifices to ask my blessing.^[d] Then I will be pleased with the people of Israel. I, the Lord God, have spoken.