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For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge of sacred things, and people should seek instruction from him[a] because he is the messenger of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. You, however, have turned from the way. You have caused many to violate the law;[b] you have corrupted the covenant with Levi,”[c] says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Therefore, I have caused you to be ignored and belittled before all people to the extent that you are not following after me and are showing partiality in your[d] instruction.”

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Footnotes

  1. Malachi 2:7 tn Heb “from his mouth” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV).
  2. Malachi 2:8 tn The definite article embedded within בַּתּוֹרָה (battorah) may suggest that the Torah is in mind and not just “ordinary” priestly instruction, though it might refer to the instruction previously mentioned (v. 7).
  3. Malachi 2:8 tn Or “the Levitical covenant.”
  4. Malachi 2:9 tn Heb “in the instruction” (so NASB). The Hebrew article is used here as a possessive pronoun (cf. NRSV, NLT).

“For the lips of a priest(A) ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger(B) of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.(C) But you have turned from the way(D) and by your teaching have caused many to stumble;(E) you have violated the covenant(F) with Levi,”(G) says the Lord Almighty. “So I have caused you to be despised(H) and humiliated(I) before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality(J) in matters of the law.”(K)

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For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.

Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

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