1. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,
2. “This is what the Lord’s teachings have commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red cow that is perfect, with no defects. Also, it must never have worn a yoke.
3. Give it to the priest Eleazar. It must be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.
4. The priest Eleazar will take some of the blood with his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting.
5. Then the entire cow (the skin, meat, blood, and excrement) will be burned while he watches.
6. The priest will take some cedar wood, a hyssop sprig, and some red yarn and throw them onto the burning cow.
7. The priest must then wash his clothes and his body. After that, he may go into the camp. But he will be unclean until evening.
8. The person who burned the calf must also wash his clothes and his body. He, too, will be unclean until evening.
9. “A man who is clean will collect the ashes from the cow and put them in a clean place outside the camp. They will be kept by the community of Israel and used in the water that takes away uncleanness. The cow is an offering for sin.