Malachi 2

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 'And now, priests, this commandment is for you.	1 And now, O priests, this command is to you.
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 If you will refuse to listen, and if you will refuse to take it to heart, so as to give glory to my name, says the Lord of hosts, I will send destitution upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yes, I will curse them. For you have not taken 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 Behold, I will cast forth an arm to you, and I will scatter across your face the dung of your solemnities, and it will take you to itself.
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 And you will know that I sent you this commandment, so that my covenant might be 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 was with him for life and peace. And I gave him fear, and he feared me, and he was afraid before the face 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 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and integrity, and he turned away many from iniquity.
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 priests will keep knowledge, and they will request the law from his mouth, because he is an angel 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many to lapse by your teaching.Since you have destroyed the covenant of Levi, says Yahweh Sabaoth,	8 But you have withdrawn from the way, and you have scandalized very many in the law. You have nullified 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 Because of this, I also have made you contemptible and debased to all the people, just as you have not served my ways, and you have accepted a face in the law.
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 Is there not one Father of us all? Did not one God create us? Why, then, does each one of us despise his brother, 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 transgressed, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has contaminated the sanctified of the Lord, which he loved, and has held the daughter of a strange god.
12 May Yahweh deprive such an offender of witness and advocate in the tents of Jacob among those whopresent offerings to Yahweh Sabaoth!	12 The Lord will drive away the man who has done this, both the teacher and the disciple, from the tabernacles of Jacob and from those offering a gift 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 And you have done this repeatedly: you have covered the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and bellowing, to such an extent that I no longer have respect towards the sacrifice, nor do I accept any appeasement that is from your hands.
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 have said, “What is the reason for this?” It is because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, whom you have despised. Yet she was your partner, and the wife of your covenant.
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 not One make her, and is she not the remainder of his spirit? And what does one seek, except offspring of God? So then, preserve your spirit, and do not despise 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 If you would hold hatred, dismiss her, says the Lord, the God of Israel. But iniquity will cover his garment, says the Lord of hosts. Preserve your spirit, and do not be willing to despise.
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 speeches, and you have said, “In what way, have we wearied him?” In that you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and such as these please him,” or certainly, “Where is the God of judgment?”