^2:4Then you will know that I sent this commandment to you so that my covenant⁶ may continue to be with Levi,” says the Lord who rules over all. ^2:5“My covenant with him was designed to bring life and peace. I gave its statutes to him to fill him with awe, and he indeed revered me and stood in awe before me. ^2:6He taught what was true;⁷ sinful words were not found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and integrity, and he turned many people away from sin.

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Malachi 2:5: 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.

Footnotes

6 My covenant refers to the priestly covenant through Aaron and his grandson Phinehas (see Exod 6:16–20; Num 25:10–13; Jer 33:21–22). The point here is to contrast the priestly ideal with the disgraceful manner in which it was being carried out in postexilic times.
7 Heb “True teaching was in his mouth”; cf. , “True instruction (doctrine ) was in his mouth.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Then you will know that I sent you this decree, so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says the Lord of Armies. “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 integrity and turned many from iniquity.

NLTNew Living Translation

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.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“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.

KJV 1900King James Version

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

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

My covenant was with him of life and peace;

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

And was afraid before my name.

The law of truth was in his mouth,

And iniquity was not found in his lips:

He walked with me in peace and equity,

And did turn many away from iniquity.

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