¹⁴ “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal^(A) to the Lord. For I am a great king,^(B)” says the Lord Almighty,^(C) “and my name is to be feared^(D) among the nations.^(E)

Additional Warning to the Priests

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

⁸ But you have turned from the way^(A) and by your teaching have caused many to stumble;^(B) you have violated the covenant^(C) with Levi,”^(D) says the Lord Almighty.

Breaking Covenant Through Divorce

¹⁰ Do we not all have one Father^[a]?^(A) Did not one God create us?^(B) Why do we profane the covenant^(C) of our ancestors by being unfaithful^(D) to one another?

⁷ Instead, we were like young children^[a] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,^{(A) 8} so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God^(B) but our lives as well.^{(C) 9} Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(D) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(E) while we preached the gospel of God to you.

¹³ And we also thank God continually^(A) because, when you received the word of God,^(B) which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.