1And now, O you priests, this commandment is for you.
2If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, says Yahuah Tseva'ot (LORD of hosts), I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart.
3Behold, 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.
4And you shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, says Yahuah Tseva'ot (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 Yahuah Tseva'ot (LORD of hosts).
8But you are departed out of the way; you have caused many to stumble at the law; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says Yahuah Tseva'ot (LORD of hosts).
9Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as you have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.
10Have we not all one father? has not one Elohim (God) created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
11Yahudah (Judah) has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Yashar'el (Israel) and in Jerusalem; for Yahudah (Judah) has profaned the holiness of Yahuah (LORD) which he loved, and has married the daughter of a strange god.
12Yahuah (LORD) will cut off the man that does this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offers an offering unto Yahuah Tseva'ot (LORD of hosts).
13And this have you done again, covering the altar of Yahuah (LORD) with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regards not the offering any more, or receives it with good will at your hand.
14Yet you say, Wherefore? Because Yahuah (LORD) has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously: yet is she your companion, and the wife of your covenant.
15And 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.
16For Yahuah (LORD), the Elohim (God) of Yashar'el (Israel), says that he hates putting away: for one covers violence with his garment, says Yahuah Tseva'ot (LORD of hosts): therefore take heed to your spirit, that you deal not treacherously.
17You have wearied Yahuah (LORD) with your words. Yet you say, Wherein have we wearied him? When you say, Every one that does evil is good in the sight of Yahuah (LORD), and he delights in them; or, Where is the Elohim (God) of judgment?