Malachi 2
The LORD rebukes the priests for failing to honor His name and corrupting the covenant of Levi. He condemns Judah for dealing treacherously — they have married the daughters of a foreign god and have broken faith with the wives of their youth. "The LORD, the God of Israel, says that He hates putting away" — yet they have wearied the LORD with their words, saying, "Where is the God of judgment?"
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. | "And now, O priests, this commandment is for You. |
| 2 | If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. | 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 on You, and I will curse Your blessings. Indeed I have cursed them already, because You do not take it to heart. |
| 3 | Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. | I will rebuke Your offspring, and spread dung on Your faces — the dung of Your solemn feasts — and You shall be carried away with it. |
| 4 | And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. | Then You shall know that I have sent this commandment to You, so that My covenant with Levi may continue," says the LORD of hosts. |
| 5 | My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. | "My covenant with Him was of life and peace, and I gave them to Him so that He might fear Me — and He feared Me, and stood in awe of My name. |
| 6 | The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. | The law of truth was in His mouth, and iniquity was not found on His lips. He walked with Me in peace and equity, and He turned many away from iniquity. |
| 7 | For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. | 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. |
| 8 | But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith 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. |
| 9 | Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. | "Therefore I have also made You contemptible and base before all the people, because you have not kept My ways but have been partial in the law." |
| 10 | Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? | Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then do we deal treacherously each man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? |
| 11 | Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. | Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the holiness of the LORD which He loved, and has married the daughter of a strange god. |
| 12 | The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts. | The LORD will cut off the man who does this — the master and the scholar — from the tabernacles of Jacob, and the one who brings an offering to the LORD of hosts. |
| 13 | And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. | And this is another thing You do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, so that He no longer regards the offering, nor receives it with good will from Your hand. |
| 14 | Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. | Yet You say, "For what reason?" Because the LORD has been the witness between You and the wife of Your youth, against whom You have dealt treacherously — though she is Your companion, and the wife of Your covenant. |
| 15 | And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. | Did He not make them one, though He had the remainder of the Spirit? And why one? That He might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to Your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. |
| 16 | For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. | "For the LORD, the God of Israel, says that He hates putting away — 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." |
| 17 | Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? | 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 judgment?" |