Malachi 2:1-9

The Lord Rebukes the Priests

1 "And now, 1O priests, 2this command is for you.
2 3If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send 4the curse upon you and I will curse 5your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.
3 Behold, 6I will rebuke your offspring,[a] and 7spread dung on your faces, the 8dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it.[b]
4 So shall you know that I have sent 9this command to you, that 10my covenant with Levi may stand, says the LORD of hosts.
5 My covenant with him was one of life and 11peace, and I gave them to him. 12It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name.
6 13True instruction[c] was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he 14turned many from iniquity.
7 For 15the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people[d] should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
8 But you have turned aside from the way. 16You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted 17the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts,
9 and so 18I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but 19show partiality in your instruction."

Cross References 19

  • 1. Malachi 1:6
  • 2. ver. 4
  • 3. Leviticus 26:14; See Deuteronomy 28:15
  • 4. [Malachi 3:9]
  • 5. [Psalms 69:22]
  • 6. [Joel 1:17; Haggai 2:17]
  • 7. Nahum 3:6
  • 8. [Exodus 29:14]
  • 9. ver. 1
  • 10. ver. 8; Numbers 25:12, 13; Nehemiah 13:29; [Numbers 3:45]
  • 11. See Isaiah 54:10
  • 12. [Leviticus 16:2]
  • 13. [Deuteronomy 33:10]
  • 14. [Daniel 12:3; James 5:20]
  • 15. Deuteronomy 17:9; See Leviticus 10:11
  • 16. [1 Samuel 2:17; Jeremiah 18:15; Ezekiel 22:26]
  • 17. See ver. 4
  • 18. [1 Samuel 2:30]
  • 19. Deuteronomy 1:17; Deuteronomy 16:19

Footnotes 4

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.