1 “And now, O you kohanim, this commandment is for you.
2 If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto My name,” saith יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot), “I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yea, I have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart.
3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.
4 And you shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that My covenant might be with Lewi,” saith יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot).
5 “My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared Me, and was reverent before My name.
6 The Torah 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.
7 For the priest (kohen)’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the Torah at his mouth; for he is the messenger of יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot).
8 But you are departed out of the way; you have caused many to stumble at the Torah; you have corrupted the covenant of Lewi,” saith יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot).
9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as you have not kept My ways, but have been partial in the Torah.
10 Have we not all one Father (Av)? Hath not one God (El) created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
11 Judah (Yehudah) hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Yisrael and in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim); for Judah (Yehudah) hath profaned the holiness of יהוה which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
12 יהוה will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob (Yaaqov), and him that offereth an offering unto יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot).
13 And this have you done again: covering the altar of יהוה with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.
14 Yet you say, “Wherefore?” Because יהוה hath been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously; yet is she your companion, and the wife of your covenant.
15 And did not He make one? Yet had He the remnant of the Spirit (Ruach). And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
16 “For יהוה, the God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), saith that He hateth putting away; for one covereth violence with his garment,” saith יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot); therefore take heed to your spirit, that you deal not treacherously.”
17 You have wearied יהוה with your words. Yet you say, “Wherein have we wearied him?” When you say, “Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of יהוה, and He delighteth in them;” or, “Where is the God (Elohim) of justice?”