Aaron

22And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.

Then Moses brought the second ram. This ram was for setting the priests apart for their work. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.

23And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron’s right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.

Moses killed it. He took some of its blood. He put it on the tip of Aaron's right ear. He put it on his right thumb and on his right big toe.

24And he brought Aaron’s sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.

Then Moses brought Aaron's sons forward. He put blood on the tip of each right ear. He put blood on each right thumb and each right big toe. Then he sprinkled blood on all sides of the altar.

25And he took the fat, and the rump, and all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right shoulder:

Moses took the fat and the fat tail. He took the fat around the insides of the ram. He also took the covering over the liver and both kidneys with their fat. And he took the right thigh.

26And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder:

There was a basket of bread made without yeast set before the LORD. From it he took one flat cake, one cake made with oil, and one thin wafer. He laid them on the fat and on the right thigh.

27And he put all upon Aaron’s hands, and upon his sons’ hands, and waved them for a wave offering before the LORD.

He put all of it into the hands of Aaron and his sons. Then it was waved back and forth before the LORD. This kind of gift was called a wave offering.

28And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt offering: they were consecrations for a sweet savour: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Then Moses took it all from their hands. He burned it on the altar on top of the burnt offering. This gift was for setting the priests apart. Its smell pleased the LORD. It was a gift given by fire to the LORD.

29And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before the LORD: for of the ram of consecration it was Moses’ part; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Moses also took the breast of the ram and waved it before the LORD. This part was Moses' own share, just as the LORD had told him.

30And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons’ garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him.

Moses took some of the oil and some of the blood from the altar. He sprinkled it on Aaron and his clothes. He sprinkled it on Aaron's sons and their clothes too. This set them all apart for God.

31And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and there eat it with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it.

Moses said to Aaron and his sons, "Cook the meat in water at the door of the tent. Eat it there with the bread from the basket. That is what I was told: Aaron and his sons are to eat it."

32And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire.

"Then burn up whatever meat and bread are left over."

33And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you.

"Do not go out from the door of the tent for seven days. Stay until the days for setting you apart are over. It takes seven days to set you apart."

34As he hath done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you.

"What was done today, the LORD told us to do. It was done to make things right for you."

35Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded.

"So stay at the door of the tent day and night for seven days. Do everything the LORD says, so that you will not die. This is what I was told to tell you."

36So Aaron and his sons did all things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

So Aaron and his sons did everything the LORD had told them through Moses.

1And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;

It was the eighth day. Moses called Aaron and his sons. He also called the elders, the older leaders of Israel.

2And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.

Moses said to Aaron, "Take a young bull calf for a sin offering. A sin offering is a gift to God after someone does wrong. Take a ram, a male sheep, for a burnt offering. Both animals must be healthy, with nothing wrong with them. Bring them to the LORD."

3And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;

"Then say this to the people of Israel. Take a young male goat for a sin offering. Take a calf and a lamb for a burnt offering. Both must be one year old, with nothing wrong with them."

4Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you.

"Also take a bull and a ram for peace offerings, gifts shared with God. Bring a grain offering mixed with olive oil. Today the LORD will let you see him."

5And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD.

So they brought all these things to the front of the tent where God met his people. The whole crowd came close and stood before the LORD.

6And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you.

Moses said, "This is what the LORD told you to do. Then you will see the shining greatness of the LORD."

7And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.

Moses said to Aaron, "Go to the altar, the table where gifts are burned for God. Offer your sin offering and your burnt offering. This makes things right between God and you and the people. Then offer the people's gift to make things right for them. Do it just as the LORD said."

8Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.

So Aaron went to the altar. He killed the calf for his own sin offering.

9And the sons of Aaron brought the blood unto him: and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar:

His sons brought him the blood. He dipped his finger in it. He put some on the horns at the corners of the altar. He poured out the rest at the bottom of the altar.

10But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the LORD commanded Moses.

He burned the fat, the kidneys, and the covering over the liver on the altar. These came from the sin offering, just as the LORD told Moses.

11And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp.

But he burned the meat and the skin in a fire outside the camp.

12And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron’s sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.

Then Aaron killed the animal for the burnt offering. His sons handed him the blood. He splashed it on all sides of the altar.

13And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.

They handed him the burnt offering piece by piece, and the head too. He burned it all on the altar.

14And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.

He washed the insides and the legs. He burned them on top of the burnt offering on the altar.

15And he brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.

Then Aaron brought the people's offering. He took the goat for their sin offering and killed it. He offered it the same way as the first one.

16And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner.

He brought the burnt offering. He offered it in the way God had said to do it.

17And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.

He brought the grain offering. He took a handful of it and burned it on the altar. He did this along with the burnt offering given that morning.

18He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron’s sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,

He also killed the bull and the ram for the people's peace offerings. His sons handed him the blood. He splashed it on all sides of the altar.

19And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver:

They brought the fat parts of the bull and the ram. That was the fat tail, the fat over the insides, the kidneys, and the covering over the liver.

20And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:

They laid these fat parts on the chest pieces of the animals. Aaron burned the fat on the altar.

21And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded.

Aaron lifted up the chest pieces and the right thigh. He waved them before the LORD as a special gift. He did what Moses had told him.

22And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.

Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and asked God to bless them. Then he came down from the altar. He had finished the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings.

23And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.

Moses and Aaron went into the tent where God met his people. When they came out, they blessed the people. Then the shining greatness of the LORD appeared to everyone.

24And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

Fire came out from the LORD. It burned up the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people saw it, they shouted out loud. They lay down with their faces to the ground.

1And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

Nadab and Abihu were sons of Aaron, the chief priest. Each one took his censer, a pan for burning incense. They put fire in the pans. Then they added incense, which makes sweet smoke. They offered this fire to the LORD. But God had not told them to do it.

2And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Fire came out from the LORD. It burned them up. They died right there in front of the LORD.

3Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

Then Moses said to Aaron, "The LORD told us this would be so. He said, 'People who come close to me must treat me as holy. All the people will see how great I am.'" Aaron did not say a word.

4And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.

Moses called for Mishael and Elzaphan. They were sons of Uzziel, Aaron's uncle. Moses said, "Come here. Carry your cousins away from the holy tent. Take them outside the camp."

5So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.

So they came and picked them up. The two men were still in their long shirts. They carried them outside the camp, just as Moses said.

6And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled.

Moses spoke to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar. He said, "Do not let your hair hang loose. Do not tear your clothes to show sadness. If you do, you will die. And God will be angry with all the people. Your relatives, all of Israel, may cry for the two men. The LORD sent the fire that burned them.

7And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.

"Do not go out the door of the meeting tent. If you do, you will die. The LORD's special oil is on you." So they did what Moses said.

8And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying,

Then the LORD spoke to Aaron. He said,

9Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

"You and your sons must not drink wine or any strong drink. Do not drink it when you go into the meeting tent. If you do, you will die. This rule will last for all time, in every family after you.

10And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

"You must know the difference between what is holy and what is not. You must know what is clean and what is unclean.

11And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

"And you must teach the people of Israel every rule the LORD gave them through Moses."

12And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy:

Moses spoke to Aaron and to his two sons who were still alive, Eleazar and Ithamar. He said, "Take the grain offering that is left over. It comes from the gifts burned for the LORD. Eat it beside the altar, with no yeast in it. It is very holy.

13And ye shall eat it in the holy place, because it is thy due, and thy sons’ due, of the sacrifices of the LORD made by fire: for so I am commanded.

"Eat it in a holy place. It is your share and your sons' share. It comes from the gifts burned for the LORD. That is what I was told to say.

14And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons’ due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel.

"You may also eat the breast that was lifted up and the leg that was given. Eat them in a clean place. You and your sons and your daughters may eat them. They are your share from the peace offerings of the people of Israel.

15The heave shoulder and the wave breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before the LORD; and it shall be thine, and thy sons’ with thee, by a statute for ever; as the LORD hath commanded.

"The people must bring the leg and the breast. They bring them along with the fat that is burned as a gift. The priest lifts them up before the LORD. Then they belong to you and your sons for all time. The LORD has commanded this."

16And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron which were left alive, saying,

Later Moses looked hard for the goat of the sin offering. He found that it had been burned up. He was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's two sons who were still alive. He asked them,

17Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?

"Why did you not eat the sin offering in the holy place? It is very holy. God gave it to you to carry away the people's guilt. It makes things right between them and the LORD.

18Behold, the blood of it was not brought in within the holy place: ye should indeed have eaten it in the holy place, as I commanded.

"Look, its blood was not brought inside the holy place. So you should have eaten it there, as I told you."

19And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD; and such things have befallen me: and if I had eaten the sin offering to day, should it have been accepted in the sight of the LORD?

Aaron answered Moses. "Today my sons brought their sin offering and their burnt offering to the LORD. And then this happened to me. If I had eaten the sin offering today, would the LORD have been pleased?"

20And when Moses heard that, he was content.

When Moses heard this, he was satisfied with the answer.

1And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;

The LORD spoke to Moses. This was after two of Aaron's sons died. They died when they came near to the LORD with an offering.

2And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

The LORD said to Moses, "Tell your brother Aaron this. He must not walk into the most holy room whenever he wants. That room is behind the curtain. Inside it is the mercy seat, the gold lid on the holy box. If he goes in the wrong way, he will die. I appear in a cloud above that gold lid."

3Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.

This is how Aaron must come into the holy place. He brings a young bull as a sin offering, a gift to make wrong things right. He also brings a ram as a burnt offering, an animal burned up whole as a gift to God.

4He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.

He puts on the holy clothes made of linen, a light cloth. He wears the linen coat, the linen underclothes, and a linen belt. On his head he wears a linen turban, a cloth wrapped around the head. First he must wash his body with water.

5And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

From the people of Israel he takes two male goats for a sin offering. He also takes one ram for a burnt offering.

6And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.

Aaron offers his own bull as a sin offering. This makes things right with God for him and for his family.

7And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Then he takes the two goats. He stands them before the LORD at the door of the tent of meeting. That is the tent where the people met with God.

8And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.

Aaron casts lots for the two goats. Casting lots is a way of choosing, like drawing straws. One goat is chosen for the LORD. The other becomes the scapegoat, the goat that is sent away.

9And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.

Aaron brings the goat that was chosen for the LORD. He offers that goat as a sin offering.

10But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

The other goat, the scapegoat, is kept alive before the LORD. It is used to make things right. Then it is sent away into the wilderness, the empty land far from people.

11And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:

Aaron brings his own bull for the sin offering. It makes things right for him and for his family. Then he kills the bull.

12And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:

He takes a fire pan full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD. He takes two handfuls of sweet incense ground very fine. Incense is a spice that makes sweet smoke. He carries it behind the curtain.

13And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:

He puts the incense on the fire before the LORD. The smoke makes a cloud that covers the mercy seat. The mercy seat sits above the stone tablets with God's words. Then Aaron will not die.

14And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.

He takes some of the bull's blood. With his finger he sprinkles it on the east side of the mercy seat. He also sprinkles blood in front of it seven times.

15Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:

Then he kills the goat that is the sin offering for the people. He brings its blood behind the curtain. He does with it just what he did with the bull's blood. He sprinkles it on the mercy seat and in front of it.

16And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.

This makes the most holy place right again. The people of Israel have been unclean and have done many wrong things. He does the same for the tent of meeting. That tent stays with them even while they are unclean.

17And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.

No one else may be inside the tent of meeting while Aaron does this. No one may be there until he comes out again. He makes things right for himself, for his family, and for all Israel.

18And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.

Then he goes out to the altar that stands before the LORD. He makes that altar right too. He takes some of the bull's blood and some of the goat's blood. He puts it on the horns at the altar's corners, all around.

19And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

He sprinkles some blood on the altar seven times with his finger. This makes it clean and sets it apart as holy again.

20And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:

When he has finished making the holy place, the tent, and the altar right, he brings out the live goat.

21And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

Aaron lays both his hands on the live goat's head. He says out loud all the wrong things the people of Israel have done. He puts them all on the goat's head. Then a man chosen for the job leads the goat into the wilderness.

22And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

The goat carries all their wrongs away to an empty land where no one lives. The man lets the goat go there in the wilderness.

1And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

Miriam and Aaron said unkind things about their brother Moses. It was because of the woman Moses had married. She came from Cush, a land far to the south.

2And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.

They said, "Has the LORD only spoken through Moses? Has He not spoken through us too?" And the LORD heard them say it.

3(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

Now Moses was a very humble man. He was more humble than anyone else on earth.

4And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.

Right away the LORD spoke to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. He said, "You three come out to the tent where I meet My people." So all three came out.

5And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.

The LORD came down in a tall cloud. He stood at the door of the tent. He called Aaron and Miriam, and they both stepped forward.

6And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

He said, "Listen to My words. When there is a prophet among you, someone who tells people what I say, I show Myself to him in a picture he sees. I speak to him in a dream.

7My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

But it is not that way with My servant Moses. He is faithful in all My house.

8With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

With him I speak face to face. I speak clearly, not in puzzles. He sees what the LORD looks like. So why were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?"

9And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.

The LORD was very angry with them. Then He went away.

10And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

The cloud lifted up off the tent. Miriam's skin turned white as snow with a bad skin disease. Aaron looked at her and saw she was sick.

11And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.

Aaron said to Moses, "Please, my lord, do not hold this sin against us. We were foolish, and we did wrong.

12Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb.

Please do not let her stay like a baby born dead. Do not let her body waste away."

13And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.

So Moses called out to the LORD. He said, "O God, please heal her now!"

14And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.

The LORD said to Moses, "If her father had spit in her face, she would feel shame for seven days. So keep her outside the camp for seven days. After that she may come back in."

15And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

Miriam stayed outside the camp for seven days. The people did not travel until she came back.

1Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:

Korah came from the family of Levi. His father was Izhar, and Izhar's father was Kohath, son of Levi. Dathan and Abiram were sons of Eliab. On was the son of Peleth. These three came from the family of Reuben. Together they got other men to join them.

2And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

They stood up against Moses. With them stood 250 leaders of Israel. These were well-known men whom the people looked up to.

3And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

They all came against Moses and Aaron. Aaron was the priest who led the people's worship of God. They said, "You take too much power for yourselves. Every one of us belongs to God, and the LORD is with us all. So why do you lift yourselves above the rest of us?"

4And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:

When Moses heard this, he bowed down with his face to the ground.

5And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.

Then he said to Korah and all his men, "Tomorrow the LORD will show who belongs to him. He will show who is set apart for him. He will let that man come near to him. The man the LORD picks is the one he brings close."

6This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;

"Here is what to do. You, Korah, and all your men must each take a censer."

7And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.

"Tomorrow put fire in them and burn incense before the LORD. The man the LORD picks is the one set apart for him. You sons of Levi are the ones taking too much."

8And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:

Moses also said to Korah, "Please listen, you sons of Levi."

9Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

"God set your family apart from the rest of Israel. He brought you close to himself to work at his holy tent. You also stand before the people and help them. Is that such a small thing to you?"

10And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?

"God brought you near to him, and all your Levite brothers too. And now you want to be priests as well?"

11For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

"So really, you and your men have joined together against the LORD. Aaron is only a man. Why do you grumble against him?"

16And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:

Moses said to Korah, "Tomorrow you and all your men must stand before the LORD. Aaron will be there too."

17And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.

"Each man must take his censer and put incense in it. Bring all 250 censers before the LORD. You and Aaron must bring your censers too."

18And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.

So each man took his censer, put fire in it, and added incense. They stood at the door of the meeting tent with Moses and Aaron.

19And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.

Korah gathered all the people against them at the door of the tent. Then the bright glory of the LORD appeared to everyone.

20And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said,

21Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

"Move away from these people. I will destroy them in a moment."

22And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

Moses and Aaron bowed with their faces to the ground. They said, "O God, you give life to every person. One man sinned. Will you be angry with all the people?"

23And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Then the LORD said to Moses,

24Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

"Tell the people to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram."

25And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

So Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram. The leaders of Israel went with him.

26And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

He said to the people, "Please move away from the tents of these bad men. Do not touch anything they own. If you do, you will be swept away with them for their sins."

27So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.

So the people moved back from those tents on every side. Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doors of their tents. Their wives, their sons, and their little children stood with them.

28And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.

Moses said, "Now you will know the LORD sent me to do all this. I did not think it up myself."

29If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.

"Maybe these men will die the way all people die. If nothing new or strange happens, then the LORD did not send me."

30But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

"But the LORD may do something never done before. The ground may open its mouth and swallow them and all they own. They will go down alive into the pit. Then you will know these men have shown no respect for the LORD."

31And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

As soon as Moses finished speaking, the ground under those men split open.

32And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

The earth opened its mouth. It swallowed the men, their homes, everyone with Korah, and all they owned.

33They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

They went down alive into the pit with everything they had. The earth closed over them. They were gone from among the people.

34And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.

The Israelites nearby heard their cries and ran away. They said, "The earth might swallow us too!"

35And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

Then fire came out from the LORD. It burned up the 250 men who had offered incense.