Leviticus 12:1-8
A Women’s Lectionary – Presentation of the Lord
1 The LordA spokeB to Moses,C saying: 2 Speak to the peopleD of Israel,E saying:
If a womanF conceivesG and bearsH a male child,I
she shall be ceremonially uncleanJ sevenK days;L as at the time of her menstruation,M she shall be unclean.
3 On the eighthN day the fleshO of his foreskinP shall be circumcised.Q
4 Her time of bloodR purificationS shall beT thirtyU-threeV days;
she shall not touchW anyX holy thing,Y or comeZ into the sanctuary,AA until the days of her purification are completed.BB
5 If she bears a female child,CC she shall be unclean two weeks,DD as in her menstruation;EE her time of blood purification shall be sixtyFF-sixGG days.
6 When the days of her purification are completed, whether for a sonHH or for a daughter,II she shall bringJJ to the priestKK at the entranceLL of the tentMM of meetingNN
a lambOO in its firstPP yearQQ for a burnt offering,RR
and aSS pigeonTT or a turtledoveUU for a sin offering.VV 7 He shall offerWW it beforeXX the Lord,YY
and make atonementZZ on her behalf; then she shall be cleanAAA from her flowBBB of blood. This is the lawCCC for her who bears a child, male or female.
8 If she cannotDDD affordEEE a sheep,FFF she shall takeGGG twoHHH turtledoves or twoIII pigeons, oneJJJ for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement on her behalf, and she shall be clean.
Image credit: “Newborn in Hospital – Sri Lanka” by Simone D. McCourtie, 2009.
