Mal 2
1
And now, O you priests, this commandment is for you.
2
If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name,
says YHWH of hosts, then will I send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings;
yea, I have cursed them already, because you 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 you shall be taken away with it.
4
And you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you, that my covenant may
be with Levi, says YHWH of hosts.
5
My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him whom 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 YHWH of hosts.
8
But you are turned aside out of the way; you have caused many to stumble in the law;
you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says YHWH of hosts.
9
Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according
as you have not kept my ways, but have had respect of persons in the law.
10
Have we not all one father? has not 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 YHWH which he loves, and has married the daughter
of a foreign god.
12
YHWH will cut off, to the man that does this, him whom wakes and him whom answers,
out of the tents of Jacob, and him whom offers an offering to YHWH of hosts.
13
And this again you do: you cover the altar of YHWH with tears, with weeping, and with
sighing, insomuch that he regards not the offering any more, neither receives it with
good will at your hand.
14
Yet you say, Wherefore? Because YHWH 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
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, says YHWH, the God of Israel, and him whom covers his garment
with violence, says YHWH of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that you deal
not treacherously.
17
You have wearied YHWH with your words. Yet you say, Wherein have we wearied him? In
that you say, Every one that does evil is good in the sight of YHWH, and he delights
in them; or where is the God of justice?