An Oracle Against the Temple Priesthood

6 “A son honors his father, and a slave his master;[fn] but if I am a father, where is my honor, and if I am a master,[fn] where is my reverence?” says Yahweh of hosts to you, O priests, who despise[fn] my name. “But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ 7 You are presenting defiled food on my altar! But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ By saying that the table of Yahweh is despised! 8 When you offer a blind animal for sacrifice, is that not wrong?[fn] And when you offer the lame and the one who is ill, is that not wrong?[fn] Present it, please, to your governor! Will he be pleased with you? Will he show you favor?”[fn] says Yahweh of hosts. 9 So then, implore the favor of God[fn] so that he will be gracious to us. “This is what you have done.[fn] Will he show favor to any of you?”[fn] says Yahweh of hosts. 10 “Who also among you will shut the temple doors so that you will not kindle fire in vain on my altar? I take no pleasure in you,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and I will not accept[fn] an offering from your hand. 11 From the rising of the sun to its setting, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is being presented to my name, and a pure offering. For my name is great among the nations,” says Yahweh of hosts. 12 “But you are profaning it by saying the table of the Lord is defiled, and its fruit—its food[fn]—is despised! 13 And you say, ‘Look! This is a weariness,’ and you sniff with disdain at it,” says Yahweh of hosts. “And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the one that is sick—this you bring as the offering! Should I accept it[fn] from your hand?” says Yahweh. 14 “Cursed is the one who cheats, who has in his flock a male and vows it, but instead sacrifices a blemished one to the Lord! For I am a great king,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and my name is awesome among the nations.”

2 “And so then, O priests, this command is for you: 2 If you will not listen, and if you will not take it to heart[fn] to give glory to my name,” says Yahweh of hosts, “then I will send the curse on you, and I will curse your blessings; moreover I have already cursed them because you are not taking it to heart.[fn] 3 Look! I am going to rebuke your offspring,[fn] and I will scatter offal on your faces, the offal of your religious feasts, and you will be carried to it.[fn]

4 “Then you will know that I have sent to you this command, that my covenant with Levi continues,”[fn] says Yahweh of hosts. 5 “My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. This required reverence, and he revered[fn] me and stood in awe before[fn] my name. 6 The instruction of truth[fn] was in his mouth, and wickedness was not found on his lips. In peace and in uprightness[fn] he walked with me, and he brought back many from sin.[fn] 7 For the lips of the priest should guard knowledge, and they should seek instruction[fn] from his mouth, for he is the messenger of Yahweh of hosts. 8 But you, you have turned from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your instruction;[fn] you have ruined the covenant of Levi,” says Yahweh of hosts. 9 “And in turn I have made you despised and humbled before all the people, inasmuch as you are not keeping[fn] my way, but are favoring your own instruction.”[fn]