Malachi 2:1–9

WARNING TO THE PRIESTS

2“Therefore, this decree^z is for you priests: ²If you don’t listen, and if you don’t take it to heart^aa to honor my name,” says the Lord of Armies, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings.^ab 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,^ac and I will spread animal waste^A over your faces, the waste from your festival sacrifices,^ad and you will be taken away with it. ⁴Then you will know that I sent you this decree, so that my covenant with Levi^ae may continue,” says the Lord of Armies. ⁵“My covenant with him was one of life and peace,^af and I gave these to him; it called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.^{ag 6}True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me^ah in peace and integrity and turned many from iniquity.^{ai 7}For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should desire instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the Lord of Armies.^aj

⁸“You, on the other hand, have turned from the way.^a You have caused many to stumble^b by your instruction. You have violated^B the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of Armies. ⁹“So I in turn have made you despised^c and humiliated before all the people because you are not keeping my ways but are showing partiality in your instruction.”^d