1And now, this commandment is for you, O priests.
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 I will send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings—indeed, I have already cursed them, because you are not laying it to heart.
3Behold, I am about to rebuke your offspring, and I will scatter dung upon your faces—the dung of your festivals—and you will be carried off with it.
4Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that my covenant might be with Levi,” says Yahweh of hosts.
5My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as reverence; and he revered me and stood in awe before my name.
6True instruction was in his mouth, and no injustice was found on his lips; in peace and uprightness he walked with me, and he turned many back from iniquity.
7For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and instruction should be sought from his mouth, for he is the messenger of Yahweh of hosts.
8But you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble with respect to the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says Yahweh of hosts.
9So I in turn have made you despised and low before all the people, according as you are not keeping my ways but are showing partiality in the law.
10Do we not all have one father? Did not one God create us? Why then do we act treacherously, each against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?
11Judah has acted treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of Yahweh, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.
12May Yahweh cut off from the tents of Jacob the man who does this—whoever is awake and answers—and the one who brings an offering to Yahweh of hosts.
13And this is a second thing you do: you cover the altar of Yahweh with tears, with weeping and groaning, because he no longer turns toward the offering or receives it with favor from your hand.
14Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because Yahweh has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have acted treacherously, though she is your companion and the wife of your covenant.
15Did he not make them one, with a remnant of the spirit belonging to him? And what does the one seek? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let no one act treacherously against the wife of his youth.
16“For he hates divorce,” says Yahweh, the God of Israel, “and he covers his garment with violence,” says Yahweh of hosts. “So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not act treacherously.”
17You have wearied Yahweh with your words. Yet you say, “How have we wearied him?” By your saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the eyes of Yahweh, and in them he delights,” or, “Where is the God of justice?”
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