1 GLT Now, O priests, this command is for you. BSB BSB: “And now this decree is for you, O priests:
2 GLT “If you will not listen, and if you will not lay it on your heart to give honor to my name,” says Yahweh of hosts,“then I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them, because you are not laying my command on your heart. BSB BSB: If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already begun to curse them, because you are not taking it to heart.
3 GLT See, I am about to rebuke your descendants, and I will spread dung on your faces, the dung from your festivals, and he will take you away with it. BSB BSB: Behold, I will rebuke your descendants, and I will spread dung on your faces, the waste from your feasts, and you will be carried off with it.
4 GLT So you will know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant may continue to be with Levi,” says Yahweh of hosts. BSB BSB: Then you will know that I have sent you this commandment so that My covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD of Hosts.
5 GLT “My covenant with him was life and peace, and I gave them to him; it was a covenant of fear, and he feared me, and he stood in awe of my name. BSB BSB: “My covenant with him was one of life and peace, which I gave to him; it called for reverence, and he revered Me and stood in awe of My name.
6 GLT True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness and he turned many away from iniquity. BSB BSB: True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.
7 GLT For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of Yahweh of hosts. BSB BSB: For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
8 GLT But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says Yahweh of hosts. BSB BSB: But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.
9 GLT “So I also have made you despised and humiliated before all the people, inasmuch as you have not kept my ways, but have instead shown partiality in matters of the law.” BSB BSB: “So I in turn have made you despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not kept My ways, but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”
10 GLT Is there not one father for us all? Has not one God created us? Why are we faithless each man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers? BSB BSB: Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why then do we break faith with one another so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?
11 GLT Judah has been faithless. An abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of Yahweh which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. BSB BSB: Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.
12 GLT May Yahweh cut off from the tents of Jacob the man who does this, the one who is awake and the one who answers, even if he is bringing an offering to Yahweh of hosts. BSB BSB: As for the man who does this, may the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who is awake and aware—even if he brings an offering to the LORD of Hosts.
13 GLT And this second thing you do: You cover the altar of Yahweh with tears, with weeping and groaning, because he still does not turn toward the offering or accept it with favor from your hand. BSB BSB: And this is another thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and groaning, because He no longer regards your offerings or receives them gladly from your hands.
14 GLT But you say,“Why does he not?” Because Yahweh was a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have been faithless, even though she was your companion and your wife by covenant. BSB BSB: Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
15 GLT Did he not make them one, with a portion of his spirit? And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. BSB BSB: Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.
16 GLT “For I hate divorce,” says Yahweh, the God of Israel,“and the one who covers his garment with violence,” says Yahweh of hosts.“So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not be faithless.” BSB BSB: “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.
17 GLT You have wearied Yahweh with your words. But you say,“How have we wearied him?” By saying,“Everyone who does evil is good in the eyes of Yahweh, and he delights in them,” or“Where is the God of justice?” BSB BSB: You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?” By saying, “All who do evil are good in the sight of the LORD, and in them He delights,” or, “Where is the God of justice?”