Priests to Be Disciplined
1 “And now this commandment is for you, O priests.
2 If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the Lordof hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed themalready,because you are not takingitto heart.
3 Behold, I am going to rebuke your offspring, and I will spread refuse on your faces, the refuse of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it.
4 Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi,” says the Lordof hosts.
5 “My covenant with him wasone oflife and peace, and I gave them to himas an object ofreverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name.
6 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.
7 For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lordof hosts.
8 But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the Lordof hosts.
9 “So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.
Sin in the Family
10 “Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?
11 Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lordwhich He loves and has married the daughter of a foreign god.
12 Asfor the man who does this, may the Lordcut off from the tents of Jacobeveryonewho awakes and answers, or who presents an offering to the Lordof hosts.
13 “This is another thing you do: you cover the altar of the Lordwith tears, with weeping and with groaning, because He no longer regards the offering or acceptsit withfavor from your hand.
14 Yet you say, ‘For what reason?’ Because the Lordhas been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
15 But not one has donesowho has a remnant of the Spirit. And what didthatonedowhile he was seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth.
16 For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong,” says the Lordof hosts. “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”
17 You have wearied the Lordwith your words. Yet you say, “How have we weariedHim?” In that you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them,” or, “Where is the God of justice?”
—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/MAL/2-56297f03afccc56ebc9a02d4aa5e5dd7.mp3?version_id=100—