¶¹And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.

If ye will not hear², and if ye will not lay³ it to heart, to give⁴ glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I⁵ will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed⁶ them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.

Behold, I will⁷ corrupt⁸ your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it⁹.

And ye¹⁰ shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my¹¹ covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

My covenant¹² was with him of life and peace; and I gave¹³ them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.

The law¹⁴ of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked¹⁵ with me in peace and equity, and did¹⁶ turn many away from iniquity.

For the priest's¹⁷ lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger¹⁸ of the LORD of hosts.

But ye are¹⁹ departed out of the way; ye have caused²⁰ many to stumble at²¹ the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

Therefore have I also made²² you contemptible and base before²³ all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but²⁴ have been partial in²⁵ the law.

¶ Have we not all²⁶ one father? hath²⁷ not one God created us? why²⁸ do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by²⁹ profaning the covenant of our fathers?

Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an³⁰ abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned³¹ the holiness of the LORD which he loved³², and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

The LORD will cut³³ off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar³⁴, out³⁵ of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him³⁶ that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.

And this have ye done again, covering³⁷ the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch³⁸ that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.

Yet ye say, Wherefore³⁹? Because the LORD⁴⁰ hath been witness between thee and the wife⁴¹ of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion⁴², and the wife of thy covenant.

And did⁴³ not he make one? Yet had he the residue⁴⁴ of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he⁴⁵ might seek a godly seed⁴⁶. Therefore take⁴⁷ heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously⁴⁸ against the wife of his youth.

For the LORD⁴⁹, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away⁵⁰: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

Ye have wearied⁵¹ the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein⁵² have we wearied him? When ye say, Every⁵³ one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where⁵⁴ is the God of judgment?