²⁴ So Moses told this to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites.

² And the things you have heard me say^(A) in the presence of many witnesses^(B) entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

The Charge to Timothy Renewed

¹⁸ Timothy, my son,^(A) I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you,^(B) so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,^(C)

¹⁷ Tell Archippus:^(A) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”^(B)

Additional Warning to the Priests

2 “And now, you priests, this warning is for you.^{(A) 2} If you do not listen,^(B) and if you do not resolve to honor^(C) my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse^(D) on you, and I will curse your blessings.^(E) Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.

³ “Because of you I will rebuke your descendants^[a]; I will smear on your faces the dung^(F) from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it.^{(G) 4} And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi^(H) may continue,” says the Lord Almighty. ⁵ “My covenant was with him, a covenant^(I) of life and peace,^(J) and I gave them to him; this called for reverence^(K) and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. ⁶ True instruction^(L) was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked^(M) with me in peace^(N) and uprightness,^(O) and turned many from sin.^(P)

⁷ “For the lips of a priest^(Q) ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger^(R) of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.^(S)