1Then the LORDsaidto Moses,"Speakto the priests,the sonsof Aaron,and sayto them: 'Noone shall defilehimself for a [dead] personamong his people,2exceptfor his relativeswho are nearestto him, his motherand his fatherand his sonand his daughterand his brother,3also for his virginsister,who is nearto him becauseshe hashadnohusband;for her he may defilehimself.4He shall not defilehimself as a relativeby marriageamong his people,and so profanehimself.5They shall not makeany baldnesson their heads,norshaveoffthe edgesof their beards,normakeany cutsin their flesh.6They shall be holyto their Godand not profanethe nameof their God,for they presentthe offeringsby fireto the LORD,the foodof their God;so they shall be holy.7They shall not takea womanwho is profanedby harlotry,norshall they takea womandivorcedfrom her husband;for he is holyto his God.8You shall consecratehim, therefore, for he offersthe foodof your God;he shall be holyto you; for I the LORD,who sanctifiesyou, am holy.9Also the daughterof anypriest,ifshe profanesherself by harlotry,she profanesher father;she shall be burnedwith fire.
10The priestwho is the highestamonghis brothers,on whoseheadthe anointingoilhas been pouredand who has been consecratedto wearthe garments,shall not uncoverhis headnortearhis clothes;11norshall he approachanydeadperson,nordefilehimself [even] for his fatheror his mother;12norshall he goout of the sanctuarynorprofanethe sanctuaryof his God,for the consecrationof the anointingoilof his Godis on him; I am the LORD.13He shall takea wifein her virginity.14A widow,or a divorcedwoman, or one who is profanedby harlotry,thesehe may not take;but ratherhe is to marrya virginof his own people,15so that he will not profanehis offspringamong his people;for I am the LORDwho sanctifieshim.'"
16Then the LORDspoketo Moses,saying,17"Speakto Aaron,saying,'Nomanof your offspringthroughout their generationswhohasa defectshall approachto offerthe foodof his God.18For noonewhohas a defectshall approach:a blindman,ora lameman,orhe who has a disfigured[face], orany deformed[limb],19ora manwhohasa brokenfootorbrokenhand,20ora hunchbackora dwarf,or[one who has] a defectin his eyeoreczemaorscabsorcrushedtesticles.21Nomanamongthe descendantsof Aaronthe priestwhohas a defectis to comenearto offerthe LORD'Sofferingsby fire;[since] he has a defect,he shall not comenearto offerthe foodof his God.22He may eatthe foodof his God,[both] of the mostholyand of the holy,23onlyhe shall not goin to the veilor comenearthe altarbecausehe has a defect,so that he will not profaneMy sanctuaries.For I am the LORDwho sanctifiesthem.'"24So Mosesspoketo Aaronand to his sonsand to allthe sonsof Israel.
