¹⁰ I also found out that ^(A)the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each ^(B)to his field.

^37 (A)and to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, ^(B)to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our towns where we labor.

⁸ Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. ^(A)But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ ^(B)In your tithes and contributions.

¹⁷ Let the elders ^(A)who rule well be considered worthy of ^(B)double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, ^(C)“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, ^(D)“The laborer deserves his wages.”

The Priests' Polluted Offerings

^6 (A)“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am ^(B)a father, where is my honor? And if I am ^(C)a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. ^(D)But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ ^7 (E)By offering polluted food upon my altar. ^(F)But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that ^(G)the Lord's table may be despised. ^8 (H)When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. ⁹ And now ^(I)entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, ^(J)will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. ^10 (K)Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, ^(L)and I will not accept an offering from your hand. ¹¹ For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name ^(M)will be^[a] great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name ^(N)will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. ¹² But you profane it when you say that ^(O)the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. ¹³ But you say, ^(P)‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. ^(Q)You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. ¹⁴ Cursed be the cheat who has ^(R)a male in his flock, and ^(S)vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For ^(T)I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name ^(U)will be feared among the nations.

⁴⁷ And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the ^(A)daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; ^(B)and they set apart that which was for the Levites; ^(C)and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

²⁸ And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites; ²⁹ also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem.

^19 (A)Take care that you do not neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land.

^2 (A)“Command the people of Israel to give to the Levites some of the inheritance of their possession as cities for them to dwell in. And you shall give to the Levites pasturelands around the cities.