3 “Behold, I will rebuke your descendantsAnd spread refuse on your faces,The refuse of your solemn feasts;And one will take you away with it.
4 Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you,That My covenant with Levi may continue,”Says the Lord of hosts.
5 “My covenant was with him, one of life and peace,And I gave them to him that he might fear Me;So he feared MeAnd was reverent before My name.
6 The law of truth was in his mouth,And injustice was not found on his lips.He walked with Me in peace and equity,And turned many away from iniquity.
7 “For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge,And people should seek the law from his mouth;For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
8 But you have departed from the way;You have caused many to stumble at the law.You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,”Says the Lord of hosts.
9 “Therefore I also have made you contemptible and baseBefore all the people,Because you have not kept My waysBut have shown partiality in the law.”