“‘ Treat as“ unclean” every flying insect that walks on all fours.

“凡有翅膀用四足爬行的物，你们都当以为可憎。

“凡有翅膀却用四足爬行的群聚动物，对你们是可憎的。

“凡有翅膀却用四足爬行的群聚动物，对你们是可憎的。

“你们要憎恶会飞会爬的昆虫，

“凡有翅膀、四足爬行的生物，你们都要当作可憎之物。

「凡有翅膀用四足爬行的物，你們都當以為可憎。

「凡有翅膀卻用四足爬行的羣聚動物，對你們是可憎的。

「凡有翅膀卻用四足爬行的羣聚動物，對你們是可憎的。

「你們要憎惡會飛會爬的昆蟲，

“凡有翅膀、四足爬行的生物，你們都要當作可憎之物。

『凡有翅膀、用四腳爬行的滋生蟲、你們都要以為可憎物。

凡有羽翼、以四足而行者、俱為可憎、

凡羽族有四足者、俱為可憎。

凡飛蟲有四足者、爾悉當視為可憎、

“‘ All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be regarded as unclean by you.

“ All winged insects that go on all fours are detestable to you.

“ You must not eat winged insects that walk along the ground; they are detestable to you.

“ All winged insects that walk on all fours are to be abhorrent to you.

‘ All the winged insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you.

‘ All flying insects that creep on all fours shall be an abomination to you.

All winged creeping things that go upon all fours are an abomination unto you.

“ All winged insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to you.

All fowls that creep, going upon[ all] four,[ shall be] an abomination unto you.

“‘ Every winged swarming thing that walks on all fours is detestable to you.

“‘ All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you.

“ No one can serve two masters at the same time. You will hate one of them and love the other. Or you will be faithful to one and dislike the other. You can’t serve God and money at the same time.

So a priest went back to live in Bethel. He was one of the priests who had been forced to leave Samaria. He taught the people of Bethel how to worship the Lord.In spite of that, the people from each nation made statues of their own gods. They made them in all the towns where they had been forced to live. They set up those statues in small temples. The people of Samaria had built the temples at the high places.The people from Babylon made statues of the god named Sukkoth Benoth. Those from Kuthah made statues of the god named Nergal. Those from Hamath made statues of the god named Ashima.The Avvites made statues of the gods named Nibhaz and Tartak. The Sepharvites sacrificed their children in the fire to the gods named Adrammelek and Anammelek. They were the gods of Sepharvaim.So the people of Samaria worshiped the Lord. But they also appointed all kinds of their own people to be their priests. The priests served in the small temples at the high places.The people worshiped the Lord. But they also served their own gods. They followed the evil practices of the nations they had been taken from.The people of Samaria are still stubborn. They continue in their old practices to this day. And now they don’t even worship the Lord. They don’t follow his directions and rules. They don’t obey his laws and commands. The Lord had given all these laws to the family of Jacob. He gave the name Israel to Jacob.The Lord made a covenant with the Israelites. At that time he commanded them,“ Do not worship any other gods. Do not bow down to them. Do not serve them or sacrifice to them.The Lord is the one you must worship. The Lord brought you up out of Egypt by his great power. He saved you by reaching out his mighty arm. You must bow down only to him. You must offer sacrifices only to him.You must always be careful to follow his directions and rules. You must obey the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods.Do not forget the covenant I made with you. And remember, you must not worship other gods.Instead, worship the Lord your God. He will save you from the powerful hand of all your enemies.”But the people wouldn’t listen. Instead, they were stubborn. They continued in their old practices.They worshiped the Lord. But at the same time, they served the statues of their gods. And to this day their children and grandchildren continue to do what their people before them did.

Many animals walk on all fours. But those that walk on their paws are“ unclean” for you. Anyone who touches their dead bodies will be“ unclean” until evening.

Lord, by your power save me from people like that. They belong to this world. They get their reward in this life. May what you have stored up for evil people fill their bellies. May their children’s stomachs be filled with it. And may there even be leftovers for their little ones.

But these people say evil things against whatever they don’t understand. And the very things they do understand will destroy them. That’s because they are like wild animals that can’t think for themselves. Instead, they do what comes naturally to them.

They are the people who separate you from one another. They do only what comes naturally. They are not led by the Holy Spirit.

I have told you these things many times before. Now I tell you again with tears in my eyes. Many people live like enemies of the cross of Christ.The only thing they have coming to them is death. Their stomach is their god. They brag about what they should be ashamed of. They think only about earthly things.

Treat as“ unclean” every other creature with wings and four legs.

All flying insects are“ unclean” for you. So don’t eat them.

Demas has deserted me. He has gone to Thessalonica. He left me because he loved this world. Crescens has gone to Galatia. Titus has gone to Dalmatia.