1 “Priests, this command is for you.
2 Listen to me. Pay attention to what I say. Honor my name,” says the Lord of heaven’s armies. “If you don’t, I will send a curse on you. I will curse your blessings. I have already cursed them because you don’t pay attention to what I say.
3 “I will punish your descendants. I will smear your faces with the garbage from your feasts. And you will be thrown away with it.
4 Then you will know why I am giving you this command. It is so that my agreement with Levi will continue,” says the Lord of heaven’s armies.
5 “My agreement for priests was with the tribe of Levi. I promised them life and peace. And I gave these to them so they would honor me. They did honor me and fear me.
6 They taught the true teachings. They spoke no lies. With peace and honesty they did what I said they should do. They kept many people from sinning.