1 A nd now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.

And now, O you priests, this commandment is for you.

2 I f ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith Jehovah of hosts, then will I send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.

If you will not hear and if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to My name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yes, I have already turned them to curses because you do not lay it to heart.

3 B ehold, I will rebuke your seed, and will spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your feasts; and ye shall be taken away with it.

Behold, I will rebuke your seed, and I will spread the dung from the festival offerings upon your faces, and you shall be taken away with it.

4 A nd ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant may be with Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts.

And you shall know, recognize, and understand that I have sent this decree to you priests, to be My covenant with Levi, says the Lord of hosts.

5 M y covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him that he might fear; and he feared me, and stood in awe of my name.

My covenant was to give him life and peace, because of the fear with which would revere Me and stand in awe of My name.

6 T he law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity.

The law of truth was in mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness and turned many away from iniquity.

7 F or the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of hosts.

For the priest’s lips should guard and keep pure the knowledge, and the people should seek (inquire for and require) instruction at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

8 B ut ye are turned aside out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble in the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts.

But you have turned aside out of the way; you have caused many to stumble by your instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts.

9 T herefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have had respect of persons in the law.

Therefore have I also made you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you have not kept My ways but have shown favoritism to persons in your administration of the law.

10 H ave we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?

Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then do we deal faithlessly and treacherously each against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?

11 J udah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of Jehovah which he loveth, and hath married the daughter of a foreign god.

Judah has been faithless and dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the holy sanctuary of the Lord which He loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.

12 J ehovah will cut off, to the man that doeth this, him that waketh and him that answereth, out of the tents of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto Jehovah of hosts.

The Lord will cast out of the tents of Jacob to the last man those who do this, the master and the servant alike, even him who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts.

13 A nd this again ye do: ye cover the altar of Jehovah with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, neither receiveth it with good will at your hand.

And this you do with double guilt; you cover the altar of the Lord with tears, and with weeping and crying out because the Lord does not regard your offering any more or accept it with favor at your hand.

14 Y et ye say, Wherefore? Because Jehovah hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, though she is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

Yet you ask, Why does He reject it? Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously and to whom you were faithless. Yet she is your companion and the wife of your covenant.

15 A nd did he not make one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? And wherefore one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

And did not God make one ? Did not One make you and preserve your spirit alive? And why one? Because He sought a godly offspring. Therefore take heed to yourselves, and let no one deal treacherously and be faithless to the wife of his youth.

16 F or I hate putting away, saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, and him that covereth his garment with violence, saith Jehovah of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

For the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I hate divorce and marital separation and him who covers his garment with violence. Therefore keep a watch upon your spirit, that you deal not treacherously and faithlessly.

17 Y e have wearied Jehovah with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? In that ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of Jehovah, and he delighteth in them; or where is the God of justice?

You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, In what way have we wearied Him? you say, Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord and He delights in them. Or, Where is the God of justice?