English Standard Version

New King James Version

The Lord Rebukes the Priests

“And now, O priests, this command is for you.

Corrupt Priests

“And now, O priests, this commandment is for you.

If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.

2

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.

3

Behold, I will rebuke your offspring,a and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it.b

3

“Behold, I will rebuke your descendants
And spread refuse on your faces,
The refuse of your solemn feasts;
And one will take you away [a]with it.

4

So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts.

4

Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you,
That My covenant with Levi may continue,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

5

My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name.

5

“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.

6

True instructionc was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.

6

The[b] law of truth was in his mouth,
And [c]injustice was not found on his lips.
He walked with Me in peace and equity,
And turned many away from iniquity.

7

For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and peopled should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

7

“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.

8

But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts,

8

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

and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

9

“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.”

10

Judah Profaned the Covenant

Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?

10

Treachery of Infidelity

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?

11

Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.

11

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.

12

May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendante of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!

12

May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob
The man who does this, being [d]awake and aware,
Yet who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!

13

And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand.

13

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.

14

But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

14

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.

15

Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union?f And what was the one Godg seeking?h Godly offspring. So guard yourselvesi in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.

15

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.

16

“For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her,j says the Lord, the God of Israel, coversk his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

16

“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.”

17

The Messenger of the Lord

You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

17

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?”

Parallel

English Standard Version

New King James Version

Malachi 2

Malachi 2