1
And now, O ye priests , this commandment is for you.
2
If ye will not hear , and if ye will not lay it to heart , to give glory unto my name , saith Jehovah of hosts , then will I send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart .
3
Behold, I will rebuke your seed , and will spread dung upon your faces , even the dung of your feasts; and ye shall be taken away with it.
4
And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant may be with Levi , saith Jehovah of hosts .
5
My covenant was with him of life and peace ; and I gave them to him that he might fear ; and he feared me, and stood in awe of my name .
6
The law of truth was in his mouth , and unrighteousness was not found in 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 at his mouth ; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of hosts .
8
But ye are turned aside out of the way ; ye have caused many to stumble in the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi , saith Jehovah of hosts .
9
Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways , but have had respect of persons in the law.
10
Have we not all one father ? hath not one God created us ? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother , profaning the covenant of our fathers ?
11
Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem ; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of Jehovah which he loveth, and hath married the daughter of a foreign god.
12
Jehovah will cut off , to the man that doeth this, him that waketh and him that answereth , out of the tents of Jacob , and him that offereth an offering unto Jehovah of hosts .
13
And this again ye do: ye cover the altar of Jehovah with tears , with weeping , and with sighing, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, neither receiveth it with good will at your hand .
14
Yet ye say , Wherefore? Because Jehovah hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth , against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, though she is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
15
And did he not make one , although he had the residue of the Spirit? And wherefore one ? He sought a godly seed . Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth .
16
For I hate putting away, saith Jehovah , the God of Israel , and him that covereth his garment with violence , saith Jehovah of hosts : therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
17
Ye have wearied Jehovah with your words . Yet ye say , Wherein have we wearied him? In that ye say , Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of Jehovah , and he delighteth in them; or where is the God of justice ?