Malachi 2

1Now, priests, this charge is for you.

2If you will not listen and if you will not set it upon your heart to give glory to my name, says Yahweh of hosts, I will send the curse upon you and curse your blessings; indeed, I have cursed them already, because you do not set it upon your heart.

3Behold, I am rebuking your seed, and I will scatter dung upon your faces—the dung of your feasts—and one will carry you away with it.

4You will know that I have sent this commandment to you to be my covenant with Levi, says Yahweh of hosts.

5My covenant was with him of life and peace; I gave them to him for fear, and he feared me and was afraid before my name.

6Faithful law was in his mouth, and no injustice was found in his lips; he walked with me in peace and integrity, and restored many from iniquity.

7For a priest's lips must guard knowledge, and instruction they must seek from his mouth; for he is the messenger of Yahweh of hosts.

8But you have strayed from the way, you have made many stumble in the law, you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says Yahweh of hosts.

9Therefore I have made you despised and lowly before all the people, according as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in the law.

10Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we act faithlessly, each against his brother, by defiling the covenant of our fathers?

11Judah has acted faithlessly, and an abomination has taken place in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has desecrated Yahweh's holiness, which he loves, and has wed the daughter of a foreign god.

12Yahweh will cut off the man who does this, the master and the one who answers, from the tents of Jacob, and whoever brings an offering to Yahweh of hosts.

13And this you do again: you cover Yahweh's altar with tears, with weeping, and with groaning, because he no longer turns to the offering or receives it with favor from your hands.

14You say, "Why?" because Yahweh has borne witness between you and the wife of your youth, whom you have betrayed, and she is your companion, the wife of your covenant.

15Did he not make one, though a remnant of the spirit belonged to him? Why then the one seeking God's seed? Therefore guard your spirit, and let none betray the wife of your youth.

16For he hates divorce, says Yahweh God of Israel, and one covers his clothing with violence, says Yahweh of Hosts; therefore guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be unfaithful.

17You have wearied Yahweh with your words, yet you say, "How have we wearied him?"—by claiming, "Everyone who does evil is good in Yahweh's eyes, and he delights in them," or "Where is the God of justice?"