Disobedience of the Priests

⁶ “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?^(A) says Yahweh of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name.”

Yet you ask: “How have we despised Your name?”

⁷ “By presenting defiled food on My altar.”

You ask: “How have we defiled You?”^(B)

When you say: “The Lord’s table is contemptible.”^(C)

⁸ “When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong?^(D) Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the Lord of Hosts. ⁹ “And now ask for God’s favor. Will He be gracious to us?^(E) Since this has come from your hands, will He show any of you favor?”^(F) asks the Lord of Hosts. ¹⁰ “I wish one of you would shut the temple doors,^(G) so you would no longer kindle a useless fire on My altar!^(H) I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Hosts, “and I will accept^(I) no offering from your hands.^(J)

¹¹ “For My name will be great among the nations,^(K) from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense^[a] and pure offerings will be presented in My name in every place because My name will be great among the nations,”^[b] says Yahweh of Hosts.

¹² But you are profaning it^(L) when you say: “The Lord’s table is defiled, and its product, its food, is contemptible.” ¹³ You also say: “Look, what a nuisance!” “And you scorn^[c] it,”^[d](M) says the Lord of Hosts. “You bring stolen,^[e](N) lame, or sick animals. You bring this as an offering! Am I to accept that from your hands?” asks the Lord.

¹⁴ “The deceiver is cursed who has an acceptable male in his flock and makes a vow but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord.^(O) For I am a great King,” says Yahweh of Hosts, “and My name^[f] will be feared among the nations.