1 [“] And now, to you⁺ [is] this commandment, O priests:10 Is there not for all of us one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we act treacherously, a man against his brother, to profane the covenant of our fathers?11 Judah has acted treacherously, and an abomination has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of YHWH, which He loves, and he has married the daughter of a foreign god.12 May YHWH cut off the man who does this, the one being awake and the one answering from the tents of Jacob, and the one drawing near [with] an offering to YHWH of Hosts.13 And this [is] the second [thing] you⁺ do: You cover with tears the altar of YHWH, with weeping and groaning, because there is not anymore turning to the offering or receiving [it] with acceptance from your⁺ hand.14 And you⁺ say, “For what?” Because that YHWH is a witness between you and between the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously, and she [is] your companion and the wife of your covenant.15 And did He not make [them] one, and a remnant of the Spirit unto him? And what [is] the one? He was seeking seed of God. Therefore keep guard over your⁺ spirit, and do not deal treacherously with the wife of your youth.16 “For He hates sending away,” says YHWH the God of Israel, “And he [who] has covered violence with his garment.” Says YHWH of Hosts. You⁺ must keep guard over your⁺ spirit and not act treacherously.17 You⁺ have wearied YHWH with your⁺ words. And you⁺ say, “In what way have we wearied [Him]?” By your⁺ saying, “Everyone doing evil [is] good in the eyes of YHWH, and in them He delights,” or, “Where [is] the God of justice?”2 If you⁺ do not listen and if you⁺ do not set [it] upon the heart to give glory to My name,” says YHWH of Hosts, “Then I will send upon you⁺ the curse, and I will curse your⁺ blessings; indeed already I have cursed them, because there is none of you⁺ setting [it] upon the heart.3 Behold, I am giving a rebuke to your⁺ seed, and I will spread dung on your⁺ faces, the dung from your⁺ feasts, and it will carry you⁺ off with it.4 And you⁺ will know that I have sent to you⁺ this commandment, in order to continue My covenant with Levi,” says YHWH of Hosts.5 “My covenant was with him—life and peace—and I gave them to him; fear, and he feared Me, and before My name he was in awe.6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and injustice was not found on his lips; in peace and in uprightness He walked with Me, and many did he turn away from iniquity.7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and instruction they should seek from his mouth, for he [is] the messenger of YHWH of Hosts.8 And you⁺ have turned aside from the way, you⁺ have caused many to stumble by [your] instruction; you⁺ have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says YHWH of Hosts.9 “And also I have made you⁺ despised and low before all the people, according to the measure by which you⁺ were not keeping guard of My ways, and were lifting faces regarding the instruction.”