Malachi 2:4-11

King James Version

⁴And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.

⁵My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.

⁶The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.

⁷For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

⁸But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.

⁹Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

¹⁰Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

¹¹Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

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Malachi 2:4-11

New International Version

⁴And 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. ⁶True 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) ⁸But 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. ⁹“So I have caused you to be despised^(Q) and humiliated^(R) before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality^(S) in matters of the law.”^(T)

Breaking Covenant Through Divorce

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

¹¹Judah has been unfaithful. A detestable^(Y) thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves^(Z) by marrying^(AA) women who worship a foreign god.^(AB)