The priests are reproved for not keeping their covenants and teaching the people—The Jews are condemned for dealing treacherously one with another, and with the wife of the covenant.

1 - And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.

2 - If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the L ORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.

3 - Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.

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

5 - My 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.

6 - The 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.

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

8 - But 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 L ORD of hosts.

9 - Therefore 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.

10 - Have 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?

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

12 - The L ORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the L ORD of hosts.

13 - And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the L ORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.

14 - ¶ Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the L ORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

15 - And did not he make one ? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

16 - For the L ORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the L ORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

17 - ¶ Ye have wearied the L ORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the L ORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment ?