²⁹ Remember^(A) them, my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.^(B)

¹⁴ Remember^(A) Tobiah and Sanballat,^(B) my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet^(C) Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets^(D) have been trying to intimidate me.

⁴ And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi^(A) may continue,” says the Lord Almighty. ⁵ “My covenant was with him, a covenant^(B) of life and peace,^(C) and I gave them to him; this called for reverence^(D) and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. ⁶ True instruction^(E) was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked^(F) with me in peace^(G) and uprightness,^(H) and turned many from sin.^(I)

⁷ “For the lips of a priest^(J) ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger^(K) of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.^{(L) 8} But you have turned from the way^(M) and by your teaching have caused many to stumble;^(N) you have violated the covenant^(O) with Levi,”^(P) says the Lord Almighty.

¹² Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace^(A) with him. ¹³ He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood,^(B) because he was zealous^(C) for the honor^(D) of his God and made atonement^(E) for the Israelites.”^(F)

⁹ Isn’t it enough^(A) for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them?^{(B) 10} He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too.^(C)