Malachi:2

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* "And now , O priests , this commandment is for you . * If you will not hear , And if you will not take it to heart , To give glory to My name ," Says the LORD of hosts , "I will send a curse upon you , And I will curse your blessings . Yes , I have cursed them already , Because you do not take it to heart . * "Behold , I will rebuke your descendants And spread refuse on your faces , The refuse of your solemn feasts ; And one will take you away with it . * Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you , That My covenant with Levi may continue ," Says the LORD of hosts . * "My covenant was with him , one of life and peace , And I gave them to him that he might fear Me ; So he feared Me And was reverent before My name . * The law of truth was in his mouth , And injustice was not found on his lips . He walked with Me in peace and equity , And turned many away from iniquity . * "For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge , And people should seek the law from his mouth ; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts . * But you have departed from the way ; You have caused many to stumble at the law . You have corrupted the covenant of Levi ," Says the LORD of hosts . * "Therefore I also have made you contemptible and base Before all the people , Because you have not kept My ways But have shown partiality in the law ." * Have we not all one Father ? Has not one God created us ? Why do we deal treacherously with one another By profaning the covenant of the fathers ? * Judah has dealt treacherously , And an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem , For Judah has profaned The LORD 's holy institution which He loves : He has married the daughter of a foreign god . * May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob The man who does this , being awake and aware , Yet who brings an offering to the LORD of hosts ! * And this is the second thing you do : You cover the altar of the LORD with tears , With weeping and crying ; So He does not regard the offering anymore , Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands . * Yet you say , "For what reason ?" Because the LORD has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth , With whom you have dealt treacherously ; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant . * But did He not make them one , Having a remnant of the Spirit ? And why one ? He seeks godly offspring . Therefore take heed to your spirit , And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth . * "For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce , For it covers one 's garment with violence ," Says the LORD of hosts . "Therefore take heed to your spirit , That you do not deal treacherously ." * You have wearied the LORD with your words ; Yet you say , "In what way have we wearied Him ?" In that you say , "Everyone who does evil Is good in the sight of the LORD , And He delights in them ," Or , "Where is the God of justice ?"

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