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Saith the Lord of hosts

Unto you, O priests, that despise My name.

And ye say: 'Wherein have we despised Thy name?'

⁷Ye offer polluted bread upon Mine altar.

And ye say: 'Wherein have we polluted Thee?'

In that ye say: 'The table of the Lord is contemptible.'

⁸And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, it is no evil!

And when ye offer the lame and sick, it is no evil!

Present it now unto thy governor;

Will he be pleased with thee?

Or will he accept thy person?

Saith the Lord of hosts.

⁹And now, I pray you, entreat the favour of God

That He may be gracious unto us!—

This hath been of your doing.—

Will He accept any of your persons?

Saith the Lord of hosts.

¹⁰Oh that there were even one among you that would shut the doors,

That ye might not kindle fire on Mine altar in vain!

I have no pleasure in you,

Saith the Lord of hosts,

Neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

¹¹For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same

My name is great among the nations;

And in every place offerings are presented unto My name,

Even pure oblations;

For My name is great among the nations,

Saith the Lord of hosts.

¹²But ye profane it,

In that ye say:

'The table of the Lord is polluted,

And the fruit thereof, even the food thereof, is contemptible.'

¹³Ye say also:

'Behold, what a weariness is it!'

And ye have snuffed at it,

Saith the Lord of hosts;

And ye have brought that which was taken by violence,

And the lame, and the sick;

Thus ye bring the offering;

Should I accept this of your hand?

Saith the Lord.

¹⁴But cursed be he that dealeth craftily,

Whereas he hath in his flock a male,

And voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a blemished thing;

For I am a great King,

Saith the Lord of hosts,

And My name is feared among the nations.

 

2And now, this commandment

Is for you, O ye priests.

²If ye will not hearken, and if ye will not lay it to heart,

To give glory unto My name,

Saith the Lord of hosts,

Then will I send the curse upon you,

And I will curse your blessings;

Yea, I curse them,

Because ye do not lay it to heart.

³Behold, I will rebuke the seed for your hurt,

And will spread dung upon your faces,

Even the dung of your sacrifices;

And ye shall be taken away unto it.

⁴Know then that I have sent

This commandment unto you,

That My covenant might be with Levi,

Saith the Lord of hosts.

⁵My covenant was with him

Of life and peace, and I gave them to him,

And of fear, and he feared Me,

And was afraid of My name.

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