1 “And now, ^qO priests, this command is for you. 2 ^rIf 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 the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, ^sI have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. 3 Behold, I will rebuke your offspring,¹ and spread dung on your faces, the ^tdung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it.² 4 So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my ^ucovenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts. 5 My covenant with him was one of life and ^vpeace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. 6 ^wTrue instruction³ was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 7 For the ^xlips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people⁴ should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 8 But you have ^yturned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, 9 and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but ^zshow partiality in your instruction.”