4 and bring the heifer down to a wadi with flowing water, to a valley that is neither plowed nor sown. There at the wadi they are to break the heifer’s neck. 5 Then the Levitical priests will approach (for the Lord your God has chosen them to serve him and to pronounce blessings in his name, and to decide every judicial verdict) , 6 and all the elders of that city nearest the corpse must wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley. 7 Then they must proclaim, “Our hands have not spilled this blood, nor have we witnessed the crime. 8 Do not blame your people Israel whom you redeemed, O Lord, and do not hold them accountable for the bloodshed of an innocent person.” Then atonement will be made for the bloodshed.

11 They say, “How does God know what we do? Is the Most High aware of what goes on?” 12 Take a good look. This is what the wicked are like, those who always have it so easy and get richer and richer. 13 I concluded, “Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and washed my hands in innocence.²⁵ 14 I suffer all day long and am punished every morning.” 15 If I had publicized these thoughts, I would have betrayed your people.