“When a man or a woman has bright spots – white bright spots – on the skin of their body,

But there is little hope for you ever doing good, you who are so accustomed to doing evil. Can an Ethiopian ¹  change the color of his skin? Can a leopard remove its spots? ² 

the priest is to examine them, ¹  and if ²  the bright spots on the skin of their body are faded white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin. The person is clean. ³ 

He is to examine the infection, and if ¹  the infection in the walls of the house consists of yellowish green or reddish eruptions, ²  and it appears to be deeper than the surface of the wall, ³ 

For he ¹  knows deceitful ²  men; when he sees evil, will he not ³  consider it? ⁴ 

From there it spots ¹  its prey, ²  its eyes gaze intently from a distance.

suffering harm as the wages for their harmful ways. ¹  By considering it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight, ²  they are stains and blemishes, indulging ³  in their deceitful pleasures when they feast together with you.

These men are ¹  dangerous reefs ²  at your love feasts, ³  feasting without reverence, ⁴  feeding only themselves. ⁵  They are ⁶  waterless ⁷  clouds, carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit ⁸  – twice dead, ⁹  uprooted;

“No,” he insisted, “but you have come to see if our land is vulnerable.” ¹ 

For this is what the sovereign master ¹  has told me: “Go, post a guard! He must report what he sees.

Priests ¹  must not have a bald spot shaved on their head, they must not shave the corner of their beard, and they must not cut slashes in their body. ² 

May the evil deeds of the wicked ¹  come to an end! ²  But make the innocent ³  secure, ⁴  O righteous God, you who examine ⁵  inner thoughts and motives! ⁶ 

Every valley must be elevated, and every mountain and hill leveled. The rough terrain will become a level plain, the rugged landscape a wide valley.

Then Joseph remembered ¹  the dreams he had dreamed about them, and he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see if our land is vulnerable!” ² 

The priests stood in their assigned spots, along with the Levites who had the musical instruments used for praising the Lord. ¹  (These were the ones King David made for giving thanks to the Lord and which were used by David when he offered praise, saying, “Certainly his loyal love endures.”) ²  Opposite the Levites, ³  the priests were blowing the trumpets, while all Israel stood there.