A Warning to the Priests

1“ And now, to you⁺ is this commandment, O priests:

2If you⁺ do not listen and if you⁺ do not set it upon the heart to give glory to My name,” says YHWH of Hosts, “Then I will send upon you⁺ the curse, and I will curse your⁺ blessings; indeed already I have cursed them, because there is none of you⁺ setting it upon the heart.

3Behold, I am giving a rebuke to your⁺ seed,† and I will spread dung on your⁺ faces, the dung from your⁺ feasts, and it will carry you⁺ off with it.

4And you⁺ will know that I have sent to you⁺ this commandment, in order to continue My covenant with Levi,” says YHWH of Hosts. 5“My covenant was with him—life and peace—and I gave them to him; fear, and he feared Me, and before My name he was in awe.

6The law of truth was in his mouth, and injustice was not found on his lips; in peace and in uprightness He walked with Me, and many did he turn away from iniquity. 7For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and instruction they should seek from his mouth, for he is the messenger of YHWH of Hosts.

8And you⁺ have turned aside from the way, you⁺ have caused many to stumble by your instruction; you⁺ have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says YHWH of Hosts. 9“And also I have made you⁺ despised and low before all the people, according to the measure by which you⁺ were not keeping guard of My ways, and were lifting faces regarding the instruction.”

Judah’s Unfaithfulness

10Is there not for all of us one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we act treacherously, a man against his brother, to profane the covenant of our fathers?

11Judah has acted treacherously, and an abomination has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of YHWH, which He loves, and he has married the daughter of a foreign god. 12May YHWH cut off the man who does this, the one being awake and the one answering from the tents of Jacob, and the one drawing near with an offering to YHWH of Hosts.

13And this is the second thing you⁺ do: You cover with tears the altar of YHWH, with weeping and groaning, because there is not anymore turning to the offering or receiving it with acceptance from your⁺ hand.

14And you⁺ say, “For what?”

Because that YHWH is a witness between you and between the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously, and she is your companion and the wife of your covenant.

15And did He not make them one, and a remnant of the Spirit unto him? And what is the one? He was seeking seed of God. Therefore keep guard over your⁺ spirit, and do not deal treacherously with the wife of your youth.

16“For He hates sending away,” says YHWH the God of Israel, “And he who has covered violence with his garment.”† Says YHWH of Hosts. You⁺ must keep guard over your⁺ spirit and not act treacherously.

17You⁺ have wearied YHWH with your⁺ words. And you⁺ say, “In what way have we wearied Him?”

By your⁺ saying, “Everyone doing evil is good in the eyes of YHWH, and in them He delights,” or, “Where is the God of justice?”