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Malachi 2:4–7

And ye shall know that I have sent mthis commandment unto you,

That nmy covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.

noMy covenant was with him of life and opeace;

And I gave them to him pfor the fear wherewith he feared me,

And was afraid before my name.

qThe law of truth was in his mouth,

And iniquity was not found in his lips:

He walked with me in peace and requity,

And sdid turn many away from iniquity.

tFor the priest’s ulips should keep knowledge,

And tthey should seek the law at his mouth:

For he is vthe messenger of the Lord of hosts.

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Malachi 2:4–7 — The New International Version (NIV)

And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says the Lord Almighty. “My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin.

“For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.

Malachi 2:4–7 — English Standard Version (ESV)

So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts. My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 2:4–7 — New Living Translation (NLT)

Then at last you will know it was I who sent you this warning so that my covenant with the Levites can continue,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“The purpose of my covenant with the Levites was to bring life and peace, and that is what I gave them. This required reverence from them, and they greatly revered me and stood in awe of my name. They passed on to the people the truth of the instructions they received from me. They did not lie or cheat; they walked with me, living good and righteous lives, and they turned many from lives of sin.

“The words of a priest’s lips should preserve knowledge of God, and people should go to him for instruction, for the priest is the messenger of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Malachi 2:4–7 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you,

That My covenant with Levi may continue,”

Says the Lord of hosts.

“My covenant was with him, one of life and peace,

And I gave them to him that he might fear Me;

So he feared Me

And was reverent before My name.

The law of truth was in his mouth,

And injustice was not found on his lips.

He walked with Me in peace and equity,

And turned many away from iniquity.

“For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge,

And people should seek the law from his mouth;

For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 2:4–7 — New Century Version (NCV)

Then you will know that I am giving you this command so my agreement with Levi will continue,” says the Lord All-Powerful. “My agreement for priests was with the tribe of Levi. I promised them life and peace so they would honor me. And they did honor me and fear me. They taught the true teachings and spoke no lies. With peace and honesty they did what I said they should do, and they kept many people from sinning.

“A priest should teach what he knows, and people should learn the teachings from him, because he is the messenger of the Lord All-Powerful.

Malachi 2:4–7 — American Standard Version (ASV)

And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant may be with Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him that he might fear; and he feared me, and stood in awe of my name. 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. For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of hosts.

Malachi 2:4–7 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts. My covenant with him was of life and peace, and I gave them to him that he might fear; and he feared me, and trembled before my name. 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 he turned many from iniquity. For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and at his mouth they seek the law; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of hosts.

Malachi 2:4–7 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Then you will know that I sent you this warning so that my promiseto Levi will continue,” says the Lord of Armies. “I promised Levi life and peace. I gave them to him so that he would respect me. He respected me and stood in awe of my name. The teaching that came from his mouth was true. Nothing unjust was found on his lips. He lived with me in peace and honesty and turned many people away from sin. 

“A priest’s lips should preserve knowledge. Then, because he is the messenger for the Lord of Armies, people will seek instruction from his mouth. 

Malachi 2:4–7 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

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

Malachi 2:4–7 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Know, then, that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may hold, says the Lord of hosts. My covenant with him was a covenant of life and well-being, which I gave him; this called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in integrity and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 2:4–7 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

“Then you will know that I have sent to you this command, that my covenant with Levi continues,” says Yahweh of hosts. “My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. This required reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe before my name. The instruction of truth was in his mouth, and wickedness was not found on his lips. In peace and in uprightness he walked with me, and he brought back many from sin. For the lips of the priest should guard knowledge, and they should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of Yahweh of hosts.

Malachi 2:4–7 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

You will know that I have given you a warning. I have warned you so that my covenant with Levi will continue,” says the Lord who rules over all.

“My covenant promised Levi life and peace. So I gave them to him. I required him to respect me. And he had great respect for my name. True teaching came from his mouth. Nothing but the truth came from his lips. He walked with me in peace. He did what was right. He turned many people away from their sins.

“The lips of a priest should guard knowledge. People should look for true teaching from his mouth. After all, he is my messenger.

Malachi 2:4–7 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

“Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi,” says the Lord of hosts.

“My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name.

True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many back from iniquity.

“For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.


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