^2:7For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge of sacred things, and people should seek instruction from him⁸ because he is the messenger of the Lord who rules over all. ^2:8You, however, have turned from the way. You have caused many to violate the law;⁹ you have corrupted the covenant with Levi,”¹⁰ says the Lord who rules over all. ^2:9“Therefore, I have caused you to be ignored and belittled before all people to the extent to which you are not following after me and are showing partiality in your¹¹ instruction.”

Read in Logos

Footnotes

8 Heb “from his mouth” (so , , ).
9 The definite article embedded within בַּתּוֹרָה (battorah) may suggest that the Torah is in mind and not just “ordinary” priestly instruction, though it might refer to the instruction previously mentioned (v. 7).
10 Or “the Levitical covenant.”
11 Heb “in the instruction” (so ). The Hebrew article is used here as a possessive pronoun (cf. , ).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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. But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“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. But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the Lord Almighty. “So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

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.

“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 Armies. “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.”

NLTNew Living Translation

“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. But you priests have left God’s paths. Your instructions have caused many to stumble into sin. You have corrupted the covenant I made with the Levites,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So I have made you despised and humiliated in the eyes of all the people. For you have not obeyed me but have shown favoritism in the way you carry out my instructions.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

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. But you, you have turned from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your instruction; you have ruined the covenant of Levi,” says Yahweh of hosts. “And in turn I have made you despised and humbled before all the people, inasmuch as you are not keeping my way, but are favoring your own instruction.”

KJV 1900King James Version

For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge,

And they should seek the law at his mouth:

For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

But ye are departed out of the way;

Ye have caused many to stumble at the law;

Ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.

Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people,

According as ye have not kept my ways,

But have been partial in the law.

Public Domain