An Oracle Against the Temple Priesthood

⁶ “A son honors his father, and a slave his master;^[a] but if I am a father, where is my honor, and if I am a master,^[b] where is my reverence?” says Yahweh of hosts to you, O priests, who despise^[c] my name. “But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ ⁷ You are presenting defiled food on my altar! But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ By saying that the table of Yahweh is despised! ⁸ When you offer a blind animal for sacrifice, is that not wrong?^[d] And when you offer the lame and the one who is ill, is that not wrong?^[e] Present it, please, to your governor! Will he be pleased with you? Will he show you favor?”^[f] says Yahweh of hosts. ⁹ So then, implore the favor of God^[g] so that he will be gracious to us. “This is what you have done.^[h] Will he show favor to any of you?”^[i] says Yahweh of hosts. ¹⁰ “Who also among you will shut the temple doors so that you will not kindle fire in vain on my altar? I take no pleasure in you,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and I will not accept^[j] an offering from your hand. ¹¹ From the rising of the sun to its setting, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is being presented to my name, and a pure offering. For my name is great among the nations,” says Yahweh of hosts. ¹² “But you are profaning it by saying the table of the Lord is defiled, and its fruit—its food^[k]—is despised! ¹³ And you say, ‘Look! This is a weariness,’ and you sniff with disdain at it,” says Yahweh of hosts. “And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the one that is sick—this you bring as the offering! Should I accept it^[l] from your hand?” says Yahweh. ¹⁴ “Cursed is the one who cheats, who has in his flock a male and vows it, but instead sacrifices a blemished one to the Lord! For I am a great king,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and my name is awesome among the nations.”