8. And you have not taken care of my holy things. You put foreigners in charge of my Temple.
9. This is what the Lord God says: Foreigners who are not circumcised in flesh and who do not give themselves to serving me may not enter my Temple. Even a foreigner living among the people of Israel may not enter.
10. “‘Some Levites stopped obeying me when Israel left me and followed their idols. These Levites must be punished for their sin.
11. These Levites are to be servants in my Holy Place. They may guard the gates of the Temple. They may serve in the Temple. They may kill the animals for the burnt offering and the sacrifices for the people. They may stand before the people to serve them.
12. But these Levites helped the people worship their idols and caused the people of Israel to fall. So I have made this promise: They will be punished for their sin, says the Lord God.
13. They will not come near me to serve as priests. They will not come near any of my holy things or the most holy offerings. But they will be ashamed of the things they did that I hate.
14. But I will make them take care of the Temple. They will take care of everything that must be done in it.
15. “‘But this is not true for priests who are Levites and descendants of Zadok. They took care of my Holy Place when Israel left me. They may come near to serve me. They may stand in my presence. They will offer me the fat and blood of the animals they sacrifice, says the Lord God.
16. They are the only ones who may enter my Holy Place. They may come near my table to serve me. They may take care of the things I gave them.