Bible in a Year.

On the forty-fifth day, Exodus 29 presents the ritual of consecration for priests, emphasizing the sanctity of service to the Lord. Leviticus 21 defines the rules of purity for priests, emphasizing the need for reverence and distinction. Psalm 119:89–176 continues to exalt the Word as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, encouraging us to live in fidelity and love for God's law.

1. And thou shalt also do this, that they may be consecrated to me in priesthood. Take a calf from the herd, and two rams without blemish,

2. And unleavened bread, and a cake without leaven, tempered with oil, wafers also unleavened anointed with oil: thou shalt make them all of wheaten flour.

3. And thou shalt put them in a basket and offer them: and the calf and the two rams.

4. And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of the testimony. And when thou hast washed the father and his sons with water,

5. Thou shalt clothe Aaron with his vestments, that is, with the linen garment and the tunick, and the ephod and the rational, which thou shalt gird with the girdle.

6. And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and the holy plate upon the mitre,

7. And thou shalt pour the oil of unction upon his head: and by this rite shall he be consecrated.

8. Thou shalt bring his sons also and shalt put on them the linen tunicks, and gird them with a girdle:

9. To wit, Aaron and his children, and thou shalt put mitres upon them: and they shall be priests to me by a perpetual ordinance. After thou shalt have consecrated their hands,

10. Thou shalt present also the calf before the tabernacle of the testimony. And Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands upon his head,

11. And thou shalt kill him in the sight of the Lord, beside the door of the tabernacle of the testimony.

12. And taking some of the blood of the calf, thou shalt put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger, and the rest of the blood thou shalt pour at the bottom thereof.

13. Thou shalt take also all the fat that covereth the entrails, and the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and shalt offer a burnt offering upon the altar:

14. But the flesh of the calf and the hide and the dung, thou shalt burn abroad, without the camp, because it is for sin.

15. Thou shalt take also one ram upon the head whereof Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands.

16. And when thou hast killed him, thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and pour round about the altar:

17. And thou shalt cut the ram in pieces, and having washed his entrails and feet, thou shalt put them upon the flesh that is cut in pieces, and upon his head.

18. And thou shalt offer the whole ram for a burnt offering upon the altar: it is an oblation to the Lord, a most sweet savour of the victim of the Lord.

19. Thou shalt take also the other ram, upon whose head Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands.

20. And when thou hast sacrificed him, thou shalt take of his blood, and put upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron and of his sons, and upon the thumbs and great toes of their right hand and foot, and thou shalt pour the blood upon the altar round about.

21. And when thou hast taken of the blood, that is upon the altar, and of the oil of unction, thou shalt sprinkle Aaron and his vesture, his sons and their vestments. And after they and their vestments are consecrated,

22. Thou shalt take the fat of the ram, and the rump, and the fat that covereth the lungs, and the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and the right shoulder, because it is the ram of consecration.

23. And one roll of bread, a cake tempered with oil, a wafer out of the basket of unleavened bread, which is set in the sight of the Lord.

24. And thou shalt put all upon the hands of Aaron and of his sons, and shalt sanctify them elevating before the Lord.

25. And thou shalt take all from their hands, and shalt burn them upon the altar for a holocaust, a most sweet savour in the sight of the Lord, because it is his oblation.

26. Thou shalt take also the breast of the ram, wherewith Aaron was consecrated, and elevating it thou shalt sanctify it before the Lord, and it shall fall to thy share.

27. And thou shalt sanctify both the consecrated breast, and the shoulder that thou didst separate of the ram,

28. Wherewith Aaron was consecrated and his sons, and they shall fall to Aarons share and his sons' by a perpetual right from the children of Israel: because they are the choicest and the beginnings of their peace victims which they offer to the Lord.

29. And the holy vesture, which Aaron shall use, his sons shall have after him, that they may be anointed, and their hands consecrated to it.

30. He of his sons that shall be appointed high priest in his stead, and that shall enter into the tabernacle of the testimony to minister in the sanctuary, shall wear it seven days.

31. And thou shalt take the ram of the consecration, and shalt boil the flesh thereof in the holy place:

32. And Aaron and his sons shall eat it. The loaves also, that are in the basket, they shall eat in the entry of the tabernacle of the testimony,

33. That it may be an atoning sacrifice, and the hands of the offerers may be sanctified. A stranger shall not eat of them, because they are holy.

34. And if there remain of the consecrated flash, or of the bread till the morning, thou shalt burn the remainder with fire: they shall not be eaten, because they are sanctified.

35. All that I have commanded thee, thou shalt do unto Aaron and his sons. Seven days shalt thou consecrate their hands:

36. And thou shalt offer a calf for sin every day for expiation. And thou shalt cleanse the altar when thou hast offered the victim of expiation, and shalt anoint it to sanctify it.

37. Seven days shalt thou expiate the altar and sanctify it, and it shall be most holy. Every one that shall touch it shall be holy.

38. This is what thou shalt sacrifice upon the altar: Two lambs of a year old every day continually.

39. One lamb in the morning and another in the evening.

40. With one lamb a tenth part of flour tempered with beaten oil, of the fourth part of a hin, and wine for libation of the same measure.

41. And the other lamb thou shalt offer in the evening, according to the rite of the morning oblation, and according to what we have said, for a savour of sweetness:

42. It is a sacrifice to the Lord, by perpetual oblation unto your generations, at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony before the Lord, where I will appoint to speak unto thee.

43. And there will I command the children of Israel, and the altar shall be sanctified by my glory.

44. I will sanctify also the tabernacle of the testimony with the altar, and Aaron with his sons, to do the office of priesthood unto me.

45. And I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel, and will be their God:

46. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who have brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might abide among them, I the Lord their God.

1. The Lord said also to Moses: Speak to the priests the sons of Aaron, and thou shalt say to them: Let not a priest incur an uncleanness at the death of his citizens:

2. But only for his kin, such as are near in blood, that is to say, for his father and for his mother, and for his son, and for his daughter, for his brother also,

3. And for a maiden sister, who hath had no husband:

4. But not even for the prince of his people shall he do any thing that may make him unclean.

5. Neither shall they shave their head, nor their beard, nor make incisions in their flesh.

6. They shall be holy to their God, and shall not profane his name: for they offer the burnt offering of the Lord, and the bread of their God, and therefore they shall be holy.

7. They shall not take to wife a harlot or a vile prostitute, nor one that has been put away from her husband: because they are consecrated to their God,

8. And offer the leaves of proposition. Let them therefore be holy, because I also am holy, the Lord, who sanctify them.

9. If the daughter of a priest be taken in whoredom, and dishonour the name of her father, she shall be burnt with fire.

10. The high priest, that is to say, the priest, is the greatest among his brethren. upon whose head the oil of unction hath been poured, and whose hands have been consecrated for the priesthood, and who hath been vested with the holy vestments, shall not uncover his head, he shall not rend his garments:

11. Nor shall he go in at all to any dead person: not even for his father, or his mother, shall he be defiled:

12. Neither shall he go out of the holy places, lest he defile the sanctuary of the Lord, because the oil of the holy unction of his God is upon him. I am the Lord.

13. He shall take a virgin unto his wife:

14. But a widow or one that is divorced, or defiled, or a harlot, he shall not take, but a maid of his own people :

15. He shall not mingle the stock of his kindred with the common people of his nation: for I am the Lord who sanctify him.

16. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

17. Say to Aaron: Whosoever of thy seed throughout their families, hath a blemish, he shall not offer bread to his God.

18. Neither shall he approach to minister to him: If he be blind, if he be lame, if he have a little, or a great, or a crooked nose,

19. If his foot, or if his hand be broken,

20. If he be crookbacked, or blear eyed, or have a pearl in his eye, or a continual scab, or a dry scurf in his body, or a rupture:

21. Whosoever of the seed of Aaron the priest hath a blemish, he shall not approach to offer sacrifices to the Lord, nor bread to his God.

22. He shall eat nevertheless of the loaves, that are offered in the sanctuary,

23. Yet so that he enter not within the veil, nor approach to the altar, because he hath a blemish, and he must not defile my sanctuary. I am the Lord who sanctify them.

24. Moses therefore spoke to Aaron, and to his sons and to all Israel, all the things that had been commanded him.

89. For ever, O Lord, thy word standeth firm in heaven.

90. Thy truth unto all generations: thou hast founded the earth, and it continueth.

91. By thy ordinance the day goeth on: for all things serve thee.

92. Unless thy law had been my meditation, I had then perhaps perished in my abjection.

93. Thy justifications I will never forget: for by them thou hast given me life.

94. I am thine, save thou me: for I have sought thy justifications.

95. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I have understood thy testimonies.

96. I have seen an end to all persecution: thy commandment is exceeding broad. MEM

97. O how have I loved thy law, O Lord! it is my meditation all the day.

98. Through thy commandment, thou hast made me wiser than my enemies: for it is ever with me.

99. I have understood more than all my teachers: because thy testimonies are my meditation.

100. I have had understanding above ancients: because I have sought thy commandments.

101. I have restrained my feet from every evil way: that I may keep thy words.

102. I have not declined from thy judgments, because thou hast set me a law.

103. How sweet are thy words to my palate! more than honey to my mouth.

104. By thy commandments I have had understanding: therefore have I hated every way of iniquity. NUN

105. Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths.

106. I have sworn and am determined to keep the judgments of thy justice.

107. I have been humbled, O Lord, exceedingly: quicken thou me according to thy word.

108. The free offerings of my mouth make acceptable, O Lord: and teach me thy judgments.

109. My soul is continually in my hands: and I have not forgotten thy law.

110. Sinners have laid a snare for me: but I have not erred from thy precepts.

111. I have purchased thy testimonies for an inheritance for ever: because they are a joy to my heart.

112. I have inclined my heart to do thy justifications for ever, for the reward. SAMECH

113. I have hated the unjust: and have loved thy law.

114. Thou art my helper and my protector: and in thy word I have greatly hoped.

115. Depart from me, ye malignant: and I will search the commandments of my God.

116. Uphold me according to thy word, and I shall live: and let me not be confounded in my expectation.

117. Help me, and I shall be saved: and I will meditate always on thy justifications.

118. Thou hast despised all them that fall off from thy judgments; for their thought is unjust.

119. I have accounted all the sinners of the earth prevaricators: therefore have I loved thy testimonies.

120. Pierce thou my flesh with thy fear: for I am afraid of thy judgments. AIN

121. I have done judgment and justice: give me not up to them that slander me.

122. Uphold thy servant unto good: let not the proud calumniate me.

123. My eyes have fainted after thy salvation: and for the word of thy justice.

124. Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy: and teach me thy justifications.

125. I am thy servant: give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies.

126. It is time, O Lord, to do: they have dissipated thy law.

127. Therefore have I loved thy commandments above gold and the topaz.

128. Therefore was I directed to all thy commandments: I have hated all wicked ways. PHE

129. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore my soul hath sought them.

130. The declaration of thy words giveth light: and giveth understanding to little ones.

131. I opened my mouth and panted: because I longed for thy commandments.

132. Look thou upon me, and have mercy on me, according to the judgment of them that love thy name.

133. Direct my steps according to thy word: and let no iniquity have dominion over me.

134. Redeem me from the calumnies of men: that I may keep thy commandments.

135. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: and teach me thy justifications.

136. My eyes have sent forth springs of water: because they have not kept thy law. SADE

137. Thou art just, O Lord: and thy judgment is right.

138. Thou hast commanded justice thy testimonies: and thy truth exceedingly.

139. My zeal hath made me pine away: because my enemies forgot thy words.

140. Thy word is exceedingly refined: and thy servant hath loved it.

141. I am very young and despised; but I forgot not thy justifications.

142. Thy justice is justice for ever: and thy law is the truth.

143. Trouble and anguish have found me: thy commandments are my meditation.

144. Thy testimonies are justice for ever: give me understanding, and I shall live. COPH

145. I cried with my whole heart, hear me, O Lord: I will seek thy justifications.

146. I cried unto thee, save me: that I may keep thy commandments.

147. I prevented the dawning of the day, and cried: because in thy words I very much hoped.

148. My eyes to thee have prevented the morning: that I might meditate on thy words.

149. Hear thou my voice, O Lord, according to thy mercy: and quicken me according to thy mercy.

150. They that persecute me have drawn nigh to iniquity; but they are gone far off from the law.

151. Thou art near, O Lord: and all thy ways are truth.

152. I have known from the beginning concerning thy testimonies: that thou hast founded them for ever. RES

153. See my humiliation and deliver me: for I have not forgotten the law.

154. Judge my judgment and redeem me: quicken thou me for thy word's sake.

155. Salvation is far from sinners; because they have not sought thy justifications.

156. Many, O Lord, are thy mercies: quicken me according to thy judgment.

157. Many are they that persecute me, and afflict me; but I have not declined from thy testimonies.

158. I beheld the transgressors, and I pined away; because they kept not thy word.

159. Behold I have loved thy commandments, O Lord; quicken me thou in thy mercy.

160. The beginning of thy words is truth: all the judgments of thy justice are for ever. SIN

161. Princes have persecuted me without cause: and my heart hath been in awe of thy words.

162. I will rejoice at thy words, as one that hath found great spoil.

163. I have hated and abhorred iniquity; but I have loved thy law.

164. Seven times a day I have given praise to thee, for the judgments of thy justice.

165. Much peace have they that love thy law, and to them there is no stumbling block

166. I looked to thy salvation, O Lord: and I loved thy commandments.

167. My soul hath kept thy testimonies: and hath loved them exceedingly.

168. I have kept thy commandments and thy testimonies: because all my ways are in thy sight. TAU

169. Let my supplication, O Lord, come near in thy sight: give me understanding according to thy word.

170. Let my request come in before thee; deliver thou me according to thy word.

171. My lips shall utter a hymn, when thou shalt teach me thy justifications.

172. My tongue shall pronounce thy word: because all thy commandments are justice.

173. Let thy hand be with me to save me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

174. I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my meditation.

175. My soul shall live and shall praise thee: and thy judgments shall help me.

176. I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost: seek thy servant, because I have not forgotten thy commandments.