[If] a metzora enters a house, all the utensils that are there become tamei, even up to the ceiling beams. R’ Shimon says: to the height of four cubits. The utensils become tamei immediately. R’ Yehudah says: If he remained long enough to kindle a lamp.

[If a metzora] enters a synagogue, a partition is made for him ten handbreadths high [for an area] four cubits wide. He enters first and leaves last. Anything that requires a fastened cover to curtail [tumah] in the tent of a corpse, requires a fastened cover to curtail [tumah] in an afflicted house; and anything that requires only a covering to curtail [tumah] in the tent of a corpse, requires only a covering to curtail [tumah] in an afflicted house, these are the words of R’ Meir. R’ Yose says: Anything that requires a fastened cover to curtail [tumah] in the tent of a corpse, requires only a covering to curtail [tumah] in an afflicted house, and anything that requires only a covering to curtail [tumah] in the tent of a corpse is tahor in an afflicted house, even if it is uncovered.

How do we make a metzora tahor? He brings a new earthenware pitcher, places in it a quarter [of a log] of ‘‘living water,’’ and brings two wild birds. [The Kohen] slaughters one of them over the earthenware vessel onto the ‘‘living water,’’ digs [a hole], and buries [the bird] in front [of the metzora]. He takes cedar wood, eizov, and red wool, and binds them together with the end of the wool. Then [the Kohen] brings the tips of the wings and the tip of the tail of the second [bird] near [the cedar wood, eizov, and red wool], dips and sprinkles [them] seven times on the back of the metzora’s hand. Some say: On his forehead. And so, too, would [the Kohen] sprinkle on the outside of the lintel of an afflicted house.

He [then] comes to send away the living bird. He does not turn his face to the sea, nor to the city, nor to the desert, as stated: And he shall send the living bird out of the city toward a field. He [then] comes to shave the metzora. [The Kohen] passes a razor over [the metzora’s] entire body, and [the metzora then] washes his clothes, and immerses. [The metzora] no longer causes tumah by entering, but he still causes tumah like a sheretz. He [is permitted to] enter within the wall, [but] he is banned from his house for seven days, and he is prohibited from marital relations.