²³ They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common^(A) and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.^(B)

²⁶ Her priests do violence to my law^(A) and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common;^(B) they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean;^(C) and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned^(D) among them.^(E)

¹⁰ so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean,^{(A) 11} and so you can teach^(B) the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.^(C)”

²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.^{(A) 25} Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,^(B)

⁹ He must hold firmly^(A) to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine^(B) and refute those who oppose it.

Rebuking Those Who Fail to Do Good

¹⁰ For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk^(C) and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.^{(D) 11} They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households^(E) by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.

⁶ True instruction^(A) was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked^(B) with me in peace^(C) and uprightness,^(D) and turned many from sin.^(E)

⁷ “For the lips of a priest^(F) ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger^(G) of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.^{(H) 8} But you have turned from the way^(I) and by your teaching have caused many to stumble;^(J) you have violated the covenant^(K) with Levi,”^(L) says the Lord Almighty. ⁹ “So I have caused you to be despised^(M) and humiliated^(N) before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality^(O) in matters of the law.”^(P)

¹¹ “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests^(A) what the law says: ¹² If someone carries consecrated meat^(B) in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?^(C)’”

The priests answered, “No.”

¹³ Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?”

“Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.^(D)”