A Warning to Priests

1 “Now, you priests, this commandment is for you:

2 If you will not listen, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to my name,” says the Lord of Hosts, “then I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart.

3 I will rebuke your offspring and will spread feces on your faces, the excrement from your feasts, and you will be taken away with it.

4 Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that my covenant may be with Levi,” says the Lord of Hosts. 5 “My covenant of life and peace was with him, which I gave to him that he might revere me, and he was reverent toward me and stood in awe of my name.

6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity. 7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts.

8 But you have turned away from the path. You have caused many to stumble in the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of Hosts. 9 “Therefore I have also made you contemptible and debased before all the people, according to how you have not kept my ways, but have shown partiality in presenting the law.

Judah’s Unfaithfulness

10 Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously, every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?

11 Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, for Judah has profaned the holiness of the Lord’s temple, which he loves and has married the daughter of a foreign god worshiper. 12 May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob and from making an offering to the Lord of Hosts, the man who does this.

13 This also you do: you cover the Lord’s altar with tears, weeping, and groaning, because he does not regard your offering any more, or receive it with good will from your hand.

14 Yet you say, ‘Why?’

Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion, and the wife of your covenant.

15 Did he not make you one, with a portion of the Spirit? Why one? He sought godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

16 For the Lord, the God of Israel says, “One who hates his wife and divorces covers his garment with violence!” says the Lord of Hosts. “Therefore pay attention to your spirit, that you are not unfaithful.

17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, ‘How have we wearied him?’

In that you say, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them;’ or ‘Where is the God of justice?’

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