祭司們啊,這誡命是傳給你們的。 萬軍之耶和華說:「如果你們不聽從我的話,也不從內心尊崇我的名,我必使咒詛臨到你們,把你們的福氣變成咒詛。事實上,因為你們不把我的誡命放在心上,我已經咒詛了你們。 我必斥責你們的子孫,把你們祭牲的糞便抹在你們臉上,又把你們和糞便一同丟掉, 你們便知道我這樣告誡你們,是為了維持我與你們祖先利未所立的約。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。 我與他所立的是生命和平安之約,我將生命和平安賜給他,使他心存敬畏。他就尊崇我,敬畏我的名。 他口中教導真理,嘴裡毫無詭詐。他與我同行,過著平安正直的生活,並引導許多人遠離罪惡。 祭司的嘴唇應持守知識,人民應從他口中尋求訓誨,因為他是萬軍之耶和華的使者。 然而,你們卻偏離正道,你們的教導使許多人跌倒,破壞了我和利未所立的約。」這是萬軍之耶和華說的。 「因此,我必使你們在眾人面前遭藐視、輕賤。因為你們不遵守我的道,在教導上偏心待人。」

10 難道我們不是出於同一位父親,由同一位上帝所造嗎?為何我們竟彼此欺騙,背棄上帝與我們祖先所立的約呢? 11 猶大人不忠貞,在以色列和耶路撒冷做了可憎的事,他們娶信奉外邦神明的女子為妻,褻瀆了耶和華所愛的聖所。 12 願耶和華從雅各的帳篷中剷除所有做這事並獻供物給萬軍之耶和華的人!

13 另外,你們哀哭悲歎,眼淚甚至淹沒了耶和華的祭壇,因為耶和華不再理會你們的供物,不再悅納你們所獻的。 14 你們還問為什麼。因為耶和華在你和你的髮妻中間作證,她是你的配偶,是你盟約的妻子,你卻對她不忠。 15 上帝不是把你們結合為一體,叫你們肉體和心靈都歸祂嗎[a]?祂為何這樣做?是為了得敬虔的後裔。所以,你們要小心謹慎,不可對自己的髮妻不忠。 16 以色列的上帝耶和華說:「我憎惡休妻和以暴虐待妻子的人。所以要守護你們的心,不可有不忠的行為。」這是萬軍之耶和華說的。 17 你們說的話使耶和華厭煩,然而,你們還說:「我們在何事上令祂厭煩呢?」因為你們說:「耶和華將所有作惡者視為好人,並且喜悅他們」,還說:「公義的上帝在哪裡?」

Footnotes

  1. 2·15 此句希伯來文語意不清。

I Will Curse Your Blessings

“And now this commandment is for you, O priests. If you do (A)not listen, and if you do not set it upon your heart to give [a]honor to My name,” says Yahweh of hosts, “then I will send the (B)curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have (C)cursed them already because you are not setting it upon your heart. Behold, I am going to (D)rebuke your seed, and I will (E)spread [b]refuse on your faces, the [c]refuse of your (F)feasts; and you will be taken away [d]with it. Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, [e]that My (G)covenant may [f]continue with Levi,” says Yahweh of hosts. “My covenant with him was one of life and (H)peace, and I gave them to him as something to be [g]feared; so he (I)feared Me and stood in [h]awe of My name. [i](J)Instruction of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked (K)with Me in peace and uprightness, and he (L)turned many back from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should keep (M)knowledge, and [j]men should (N)seek [k]instruction from his mouth; for he is the (O)messenger of Yahweh of hosts. But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to (P)stumble [l]by the instruction; you have [m](Q)corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says Yahweh of hosts. “So (R)I also have made you despised and (S)low [n]before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing (T)partiality in the [o]instruction.

Judah Profaned Yahweh’s Sanctuary

10 “Do we not all have (U)one father? (V)Has not one God created us? Why do we deal (W)treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the (X)covenant of our fathers? 11 Judah has dealt (Y)treacherously, and an abomination has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has (Z)profaned the sanctuary of Yahweh [p]which He loves and has married the daughter of a foreign god. 12 As for the man who does this, may (AA)Yahweh cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who awakes and answers or who (AB)presents [q]an offering to Yahweh of hosts.

13 “And this is a second thing you do: you cover the altar of Yahweh with tears, with weeping, and with groaning because He (AC)no longer regards the [r]offering or receives it as acceptable from your hand. 14 But you say, ‘For what reason?’ Because Yahweh has been a witness between you and the (AD)wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt (AE)treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 [s]But not one has (AF)done so, even one who has a remnant of the Spirit. And [t]what did that one do while he was seeking a (AG)godly seed? Be careful then to keep your spirit, and let no one deal (AH)treacherously against the wife of your youth. 16 For [u]I hate [v](AI)divorce,” says Yahweh, the God of Israel, “and [w]him who covers his garment with [x](AJ)wrong,” says Yahweh of hosts. “Be careful then to keep your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”

17 You have (AK)wearied Yahweh with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “(AL)Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of Yahweh, and He (AM)delights in them,” or, “(AN)Where is the God of (AO)justice?”

Footnotes

  1. Malachi 2:2 Or glory
  2. Malachi 2:3 Or vomit
  3. Malachi 2:3 Or vomit
  4. Malachi 2:3 Lit to
  5. Malachi 2:4 Or to be My covenant with
  6. Malachi 2:4 Lit be
  7. Malachi 2:5 Or reverenced
  8. Malachi 2:5 Lit terror
  9. Malachi 2:6 Or Law
  10. Malachi 2:7 Lit they
  11. Malachi 2:7 Or law
  12. Malachi 2:8 Or in the law
  13. Malachi 2:8 Or violated
  14. Malachi 2:9 Lit to
  15. Malachi 2:9 Or law
  16. Malachi 2:11 Or in that He has loved and married
  17. Malachi 2:12 Or a grain offering
  18. Malachi 2:13 Or grain offering
  19. Malachi 2:15 Or Did He not make one, although He had the remnant
  20. Malachi 2:15 Or why one? He sought a godly offspring.
  21. Malachi 2:16 Lit He hates
  22. Malachi 2:16 Lit sending away
  23. Malachi 2:16 Lit he covers
  24. Malachi 2:16 Or violence

Corrupt Priests

“And now, O (A)priests, this commandment is for you.
(B)If you will not hear,
And if you will not take it to heart,
To give glory to My name,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“I will send a curse upon you,
And I will curse your blessings.
Yes, I have cursed them (C)already,
Because you do not take it to heart.

“Behold, I will rebuke your descendants
And spread (D)refuse on your faces,
The refuse of your solemn feasts;
And one will (E)take you away [a]with it.
Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you,
That My covenant with Levi may continue,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“My(F) covenant was with him, one of life and peace,
And I gave them to him (G)that he might fear Me;
So he feared Me
And was reverent before My name.
(H)The[b] law of truth was in his mouth,
And [c]injustice was not found on his lips.
He walked with Me in peace and equity,
And (I)turned many away from iniquity.

“For(J) the lips of a priest should keep knowledge,
And people should seek the law from his mouth;
(K)For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
But you have departed from the way;
You (L)have caused many to stumble at the law.
(M)You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“Therefore (N)I also have made you contemptible and base
Before all the people,
Because you have not kept My ways
But have shown (O)partiality in the law.”

Treachery of Infidelity

10 (P)Have we not all one Father?
(Q)Has not one God created us?
Why do we deal treacherously with one another
By profaning the covenant of the fathers?
11 Judah has dealt treacherously,
And an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem,
For Judah has (R)profaned
The Lord’s holy institution which He loves:
He has married the daughter of a foreign god.
12 May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob
The man who does this, being [d]awake and aware,
Yet (S)who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!

13 And this is the second thing you do:
You cover the altar of the Lord with tears,
With weeping and crying;
So He does not regard the offering anymore,
Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.
14 Yet you say, “For what reason?”
Because the Lord has been witness
Between you and (T)the wife of your youth,
With whom you have dealt treacherously;
(U)Yet she is your companion
And your wife by covenant.
15 But (V)did He not make them one,
Having a remnant of the Spirit?
And why one?
He seeks (W)godly offspring.
Therefore take heed to your spirit,
And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.

16 “For (X)the Lord God of Israel says
That He hates divorce,
For it covers one’s garment with violence,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“Therefore take heed to your spirit,
That you do not deal treacherously.”

17 (Y)You have wearied the Lord with your words;
Yet you say,
“In what way have we wearied Him?
In that you say,
(Z)“Everyone who does evil
Is good in the sight of the Lord,
And He delights in them,”
Or, “Where is the God of justice?”

Footnotes

  1. Malachi 2:3 Lit. to it
  2. Malachi 2:6 Or True instruction
  3. Malachi 2:6 Or unrighteousness
  4. Malachi 2:12 Talmud, Vg. teacher and student