The Father Rebukes His Priests
The priests are addressed directly and harshly — their instruction has made people stumble, so honor is withdrawn. Then the same betrayal at home: don't we all have one Father? Our Father witnessed the marriage vow, and hates the tearing apart of it.
2 1Now, priests, this command is for you.
2If you won't listen, or take it to heart to honor my name, says the Father of heaven's armies, I will send the curse on you and curse your blessings. I have already cursed them, because you don't take it to heart. 3I will rebuke your offspring and smear manure on your faces—the manure of your feasts—and you will be carried off with it. 4Then you will know I sent this command to you, so my covenant with Levi stands, says the Father of heaven's armies. 5"My covenant with him was life and peace; I gave them to him to be held with reverence, and he revered me and trembled before my name. 6True instruction was in his mouth, no wrong on his lips. He walked with me in peace and integrity, and turned many from sin. 7A priest's lips guard knowledge, and people seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Father of heaven's armies. 8But you turned from the way and made many stumble by your instruction; you corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Father of heaven's armies. 9So I made you despised and low before all the people, because you haven't kept my ways but shown favoritism in your instruction."
Faithless to One Another and to the Father
10Don't we all have one Father? Didn't one Father create us? Why betray each other, desecrating our fathers' covenant? 11Judah is unfaithful; a detestable thing is done in Israel and Jerusalem. Judah has desecrated our Father's holy place, which he loves, and married the daughter of a foreign god. 12May our Father cut off from Jacob's tents the man who does this—anyone at all—even one bringing an offering to the Father of heaven's armies.
13And a second thing you do: you cover our Father's altar with tears, weeping and groaning, because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it gladly from your hand. 14You ask, "Why?" Because our Father witnessed between you and the wife of your youth, whom you betrayed—though your companion, your wife by covenant. 15Didn't the Father make you one with your wife? Body and spirit, you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your spirit; let no one betray the wife of his youth.
16"For I hate divorce," says our Father, the Father of Israel, "and whoever covers his garment with violence," says the Father of heaven's armies. So guard your spirit; do not be unfaithful.
17You have worn out our Father with your words. Yet you ask, "How have we worn him out?" By saying, "All who do evil are good in his sight, and he delights in them"—or, "Where is the Father of justice?"
