Malachi 2

NEW JERUSALEM	LA SACRA BIBBIA
1 'And now, priests, this commandment is for 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.
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.
4 Then you wil know that I sent this commandment to you, to affirm my intention to maintain my covenantwith Levi, says Yahweh Sabaoth.
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.
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.
7 The priest's lips ought to safeguard knowledge; his mouth is where the law should be sought, since heis Yahweh Sabaoth's messenger.
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,
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.
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?
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.
12 May Yahweh deprive such an offender of witness and advocate in the tents of Jacob among those whopresent offerings to Yahweh Sabaoth!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?"