Warning to the Priests

2 “Therefore, this decree^(A) is for you priests: ² If you don’t listen, and if you don’t take it to heart^(B) to honor my name,” says the Lord of Armies, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings.^(C) In fact, I have already begun to curse them because you are not taking it to heart.

³ “Look, I am going to rebuke your descendants,^(D) and I will spread animal waste^[a] over your faces, the waste from your festival sacrifices,^(E) and you will be taken away with it. ⁴ Then you will know that I sent you this decree, so that my covenant with Levi^(F) may continue,” says the Lord of Armies. ⁵ “My covenant with him was one of life and peace,^(G) and I gave these to him; it called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.^{(H) 6} True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me^(I) in peace and integrity and turned many from iniquity.^{(J) 7} For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should desire instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the Lord of Armies.^(K)

⁸ “You, on the other hand, have turned from the way.^(L) You have caused many to stumble^(M) by your instruction. You have violated^[b] the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of Armies. ⁹ “So I in turn have made you despised^(N) and humiliated before all the people because you are not keeping my ways but are showing partiality in your instruction.”^(O)