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

^26 (A)Her priests ^(B)have done violence to my law and ^(C)have profaned my holy things. ^(D)They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and ^(E)they have disregarded my Sabbaths, ^(F)so that I am profaned among them.

¹⁰ You are to ^(A)distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, ¹¹ and ^(B)you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the Lord has spoken to them by Moses.”

⁹ He must ^(A)hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in ^(B)sound^[a] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

¹⁰ For there are many who are insubordinate, ^(C)empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of ^(D)the circumcision party.^{[b] 11} They must be silenced, since ^(E)they are upsetting whole families by teaching ^(F)for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.

²⁴ And ^(A)the Lord's servant^[a] must not be quarrelsome but ^(B)kind to everyone, ^(C)able to teach, patiently enduring evil, ²⁵ correcting his opponents ^(D)with gentleness. God ^(E)may perhaps grant them repentance ^(F)leading to a knowledge of the truth,

¹¹ “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ^(A)Ask the priests about the law: ¹² ‘If someone carries ^(B)holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?’” The priests answered and said, ^(C)“No.” ¹³ Then Haggai said, ^(D)“If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body ^(E)touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.”

^6 (A)True instruction^[a] was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he ^(B)turned many from iniquity. ⁷ For ^(C)the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people^[b] should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. ⁸ But you have turned aside from the way. ^(D)You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted ^(E)the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, ⁹ and so ^(F)I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but ^(G)show partiality in your instruction.”