Malachi 2

1“And nowH6258 thisH2063 decreeH4687 is for youH413, O priestsH3548:

2IfH518 you do notH3808 listenH8085, and ifH518 you do notH3808 takeH7760 it toH5921 heartH3820 to honorH5414H3519 My nameH8034,” saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635, “I will sendH7971 a curseH3994 among you, and I will curseH779 your blessingsH1293. YesH1571, I have already begun to curse themH779, becauseH3588 you are notH369 takingH7760 it toH5921 heartH3820.

3BeholdH2005, I will rebukeH1605 your descendantsH2233,1 and I will spreadH2219 dungH6569 onH5921 your facesH6440, the wasteH6569 from your feastsH2282, and you will be carried offH5375 with itH413.

4Then you will knowH3045 thatH3588 I have sentH7971 youH413 thisH2063 commandmentH4687 so that My covenantH1285 withH854 LeviH3878 may continueH1961,” saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635. 5“My covenantH1285 with himH854 wasH1961 one of lifeH2416 and peaceH7965, which I gaveH5414 to him; it called for reverenceH4172, and he revered MeH3372 and stood in aweH2865H1931H6440 of My nameH8034.

6TrueH571 instructionH8451 wasH1961 in his mouthH6310, and nothingH3808 falseH5766 was foundH4672 on his lipsH8193. He walkedH1980 with MeH854 in peaceH7965 and uprightnessH4334, and he turnedH7725 manyH7227 from iniquityH5771. 7ForH3588 the lipsH8193 of a priestH3548 should preserveH8104 knowledgeH1847, and people should seekH1245 instructionH8451 from his mouthH6310, becauseH3588 heH1931 is the messengerH4397 of the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635.

8But youH859 have departedH5493 fromH4480 the wayH1870, and your instructionH8451 has caused manyH7227 to stumbleH3782. You have violatedH7843 the covenantH1285 of LeviH3878,” saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635. 9“So IH589 in turnH1571 have madeH5414 you despisedH959 and humiliatedH8217 before allH3605 the peopleH5971, becauseH6310 you have notH369 keptH8104 My waysH1870, but have shown partialityH5375H6440 in matters of the lawH8451.”

Judah’s Unfaithfulness

10Do we notH3808 allH3605 have oneH259 FatherH1? Did notH3808 oneH259 GodH410 create usH1254? Why thenH4069 do we break faithH898 with oneH376 anotherH251 so as to profaneH2490 the covenantH1285 of our fathersH1?

11JudahH3063 has broken faithH898; an abominationH8441 has been committedH6213 in IsraelH3478 and in JerusalemH3389. ForH3588 JudahH3063 has profanedH2490 the LORD’sH3068 belovedH157 sanctuaryH6944 by marryingH1166 the daughterH1323 of a foreignH5236 godH410. 12As for the manH376 whoH834 does thisH6213, may the LORDH3068 cut offH3772 from the tentsH168 of JacobH3290 everyone who is awakeH5782 and awareH6030—even if he bringsH5066 an offeringH4503 to the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635.

13And thisH2063 is anotherH8145 thing you doH6213: You coverH3680 the altarH4196 of the LORDH3068 with tearsH1832, with weepingH1065 and groaningH603, because He noH369 longerH5750 regardsH6437H413 your offeringsH4503 or receives themH3947 gladlyH7522 from your handsH3027.

14Yet you askH559, “WhyH5921H4100?”

It is becauseH5921H3588 the LORDH3068 has been a witnessH5749 between youH996 andH996 the wifeH802 of your youthH5271, against whomH834 youH859 have broken faithH898, though she isH1931 your companionH2278 and your wifeH802 by covenantH1285.

15Has notH3808 the LORD made themH6213 oneH259, having a portionH7605 of the SpiritH7307? And whyH4100 oneH259? Because He seeksH1245 godlyH430 offspringH2233. So guard yourselvesH8104 in your spiritH7307 and do notH408 break faithH898 with the wifeH802 of your youthH5271.

16“ForH3588 I hateH8130 divorceH7971,” saysH559 the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478. “He who divorces his wife coversH3680 his garmentH3830 withH5921 violenceH2555,”2 saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635. So guard yourselvesH8104 in your spiritH7307 and do notH3808 break faithH898.

17You have weariedH3021 the LORDH3068 with your wordsH1697; yet you askH559, “HowH4100 have we wearied HimH3021?”

By sayingH559, “AllH3605 who doH6213 evilH7451 are goodH2896 in the sightH5869 of the LORDH3068, and in them HeH1931 delightsH2654,” orH176, “WhereH346 is the GodH430 of justiceH4941?”