Malachi 2

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 'And now, priests, this commandment is for you.	1 And now, O priests, this commandment is for you: If you do not listen,
2 If you will not listen, if you will not sincerely resolve to glorify my name, says Yahweh Sabaoth, I shalcertainly lay a curse on you and I shal curse your blessing. Indeed I wil lay a curse, for none of you makes thisresolve.	2 And if you do not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts, I will send a curse upon you and of your blessing I will make a curse. Yes, I have already cursed it, because you do not lay it to heart.
3 Now, I am going to break your arm and throw offal in your faces -- the offal of your solemn feasts -- andsweep you away with it.	3 Lo, I will deprive you of the shoulder and I will strew dung in your faces, The dung of your feasts, and you will be carried off with it.
4 Then you wil know that I sent this commandment to you, to affirm my intention to maintain my covenantwith Levi, says Yahweh Sabaoth.	4 Then you will know that I sent you this commandment because I have a covenant with Levi, says the LORD of hosts.
5 My covenant was with him -- a covenant of life and peace, and these were what I gave him -- acovenant of respect, and he respected me and held my name in awe.	5 My covenant with him was one of life and peace; fear I put in him, and he feared me, and stood in awe of my name.
6 The law of truth was in his mouth and guilt was not found on his lips; he walked in peace and justicewith me and he converted many from sinning.	6 True doctrine was in his mouth, and no dishonesty was found upon his lips; He walked with me in integrity and in uprightness, and turned many away from evil.
7 The priest's lips ought to safeguard knowledge; his mouth is where the law should be sought, since heis Yahweh Sabaoth's messenger.	7 For the lips of the priest are to keep knowledge, and instruction is to be sought from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
8 But you yourselves have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to lapse by your teaching.Since you have destroyed the covenant of Levi, says Yahweh Sabaoth,	8 But you have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction; You have made void the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts.
9 so I in my turn have made you contemptible and vile to the whole people, for not having kept my waysand for being partial in applying the law.	9 I, therefore, have made you contemptible and base before all the people, Since you do not keep my ways, but show partiality in your decisions.
10 'Is there not one Father of us al ? Did not one God create us? Why, then, do we break faith with oneanother, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?	10 Have we not all the one Father? Has not the one God created us? Why then do we break faith with each other, violating the covenant of our fathers?
11 Judah has broken faith; a detestable thing has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah hasprofaned Yahweh's beloved sanctuary; he has married the daughter of an alien god.	11 Judah has broken faith; an abominable thing has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem. Judah has profaned the temple which the LORD loves, and has married an idolatrous woman.
12 May Yahweh deprive such an offender of witness and advocate in the tents of Jacob among those whopresent offerings to Yahweh Sabaoth!	12 May the LORD cut off from the man who does this both witness and advocate out of the tents of Jacob, and anyone to offer sacrifice to the LORD of hosts!
13 'And here is something else you do: you cover the altar of Yahweh with tears, with weeping andwailing, because he now refuses to consider the offering or to accept it from you.	13 This also you do: the altar of the LORD you cover with tears, weeping and groaning, Because he no longer regards your sacrifice nor accepts it favorably from your hand;
14 And you ask, "Why?" Because Yahweh stands as witness between you and the wife of your youth,with whom you have broken faith, even though she was your partner and your wife by covenant.	14 And you say, "Why is it?"-- Because the LORD is witness between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have broken faith though she is your companion, your betrothed wife.
15 Did he not create a single being, having flesh and the breath of life? And what does this single being seek? God -- given offspring! Have respect for your own life then, and do not break faith with the wife of youryouth.	15 Did he not make one being, with flesh and spirit: and what does that one require but godly offspring? You must then safeguard life that is your own, and not break faith with the wife of your youth.
16 For I hate divorce, says Yahweh, God of Israel, and people concealing their cruelty under a cloak, saysYahweh Sabaoth. Have respect for your own life then, and do not break faith.	16 For I hate divorce, says the LORD, the God of Israel, And covering one's garment with injustice, says the LORD of hosts; You must then safeguard life that is your own, and not break faith.
17 'You have wearied Yahweh with your talk. You ask, "How have we wearied him?" When you say, "Anyevil-doer is good as far as Yahweh is concerned; indeed he is delighted with them"; or when you say, "Where isthe God of fair judgement now?"	17 You have wearied the LORD with your words, yet you say, "How have we wearied him?" By your saying, "Every evildoer is good in the sight of the LORD, And he is pleased with him"; or else, "Where is the just God?"