1 “Now, you priests, this commandment is for you. 2 If
you will not listen, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give
glory to my name,” says Yahweh of Hosts, “then will I send the curse on you,
and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because
you do not lay it to heart. 3 Behold, I will rebuke your seed, and
will spread dung on your faces, even the dung of your feasts; and you
will be taken away with it. 4 You will know that I have sent this
commandment to you, that my covenant may be with Levi,” says Yahweh of Hosts.
5 “My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him who
he might be reverent toward 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 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 Yahweh of Hosts. 8 But you have turned aside out of the way.
You have caused many to stumble in the law. You have corrupted the
covenant of Levi,” says Yahweh of Hosts. 9 “Therefore I have also made you
contemptible and base before all the people, according to the way you
have not kept my ways, but have had respect for persons in the law.
10 Don’t we all have one father? Hasn’t 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 is committed
in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the holiness of Yahweh
which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. 12 Yahweh
will cut off, to the man who does this, him who wakes and him who answers,
out of the tents of Jacob, and him who offers an offering to Yahweh of Hosts.
13 This again you do: you cover the altar of Yahweh with tears,
with weeping, and with sighing, because he doesn’t regard the offering any
more, neither receives it with good will at your hand. 14 Yet you
say, ‘Why?’ Because Yahweh 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 one, although
he had the residue of the Spirit? Why 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 divorce,” says Yahweh, the God of Israel, “and
him who covers his garment with violence!’ says Yahweh of Hosts. “Therefore
take heed to your spirit, that you don’t deal treacherously.
17 You have wearied Yahweh 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 Yahweh, and he delights in them;’ or ‘Where is the God of
justice?’
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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