Malachi 1:6-2:9
New American Standard Bible
Sin of the Priests
6 “‘A son (A)honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a (B)father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My [a]respect?’ says the Lord of armies to you, the (C)priests who despise My name! But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’ 7 You are presenting (D)defiled [b](E)food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The (F)table of the Lord is to be despised.’ 8 And when you present a (G)blind animal for sacrifice, is it not evil? Or when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not evil? So offer it to your (H)governor! Would he be pleased with you, or would he receive you kindly?” says the Lord of armies. 9 “But now, do indeed (I)plead for God’s favor, so that He will be gracious to us. [c]With such an offering on your part, will He (J)receive any of you kindly?” says the Lord of armies. 10 “If only there were one among you who would (K)shut the [d]gates, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar for nothing! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of armies, “(L)nor will I accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the (M)rising of the sun even to its setting, (N)My name shall be (O)great among the nations, and in every place (P)frankincense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name shall be (Q)great among the nations,” says the Lord of armies. 12 “But you are (R)profaning it by your saying, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’ 13 You also say, ‘See, [e]how (S)tiresome it is!’ And you view it as trivial,” says the Lord of armies, “and you bring what was taken by (T)robbery and what is (U)lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I (V)accept it from your hand?” says the Lord. 14 “But cursed be the (W)swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a (X)blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great (Y)King,” says the Lord of armies, “and My name is [f](Z)feared among the [g]nations.”
Priests to Be Disciplined
2 “And now, this commandment is for you, the priests. 2 If you do (AA)not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the Lord of armies, “then I will send the (AB)curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have (AC)cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart. 3 Behold, I am going to (AD)rebuke your [h]descendants, and I will (AE)spread [i]dung on your faces, the [j]dung of your (AF)feasts; and you will be taken away [k]with it. 4 Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, [l]so that My (AG)covenant may [m]continue with Levi,” says the Lord of armies. 5 “My covenant with him was one of life and (AH)peace, and I gave them to him as an object of [n]reverence; so he [o](AI)revered Me and was in awe of My name. 6 [p](AJ)True instruction was in his mouth and injustice was not found on his lips; he walked (AK)with Me in peace and justice, and he (AL)turned many back from wrongdoing. 7 For the lips of a priest should maintain (AM)knowledge, and people should (AN)seek [q]instruction from his mouth; for he is the (AO)messenger of the Lord of armies. 8 But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to (AP)stumble [r]by the instruction; you have (AQ)ruined the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of armies. 9 “So (AR)I also have made you despised and of (AS)low reputation [s]in the view of all the people, since you are not keeping My ways but are showing (AT)partiality in the [t]instruction.”
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Bible Gateway Recommends
