2 And
now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. 2 If
ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto
my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and
I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because
ye 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
ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant
might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 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 afraid before my name. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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.
10
Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal
treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of
our fathers? 11 Judah
hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and
in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he
loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. 12 The
LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out
of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the
LORD of hosts. 13 And
this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD 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
ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the
wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she
thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 15 And
did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. 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
the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one
covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take
heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. 17 Ye
have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied
him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the
LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?