Malachi 2:1-9 ▼

1 “ Therefore , this decree is for you priests:

2 If you don’t listen, and if you don’t take it to heart to honor My name,” says Yahweh of Hosts, “ I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. In fact, I have already begun to curse them because you are not taking it to heart.

3 “ Look, I am going to rebuke your descendants, and I will spread animal waste over your faces, the waste from your festival sacrifices, and you will be taken away with it.

4 Then you will know that I sent you this decree so My covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD of Hosts.

5 “ My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave these to him; it called for reverence, and he revered Me and stood in awe of My name.

6 true instruction was in his mouth, and nothing wrong was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and fairness and turned many from sin.

7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.

8 “ You, on the other hand, have turned from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.

9 “ So I in turn have made you despised and humiliated before all the people because you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in your instruction.”