1 “And now, O priests, this command is for you.
2 “If you do not hear, and if you do not take it to heart, to give esteem to My Name,” said יהוה of hosts, “I shall send a curse upon you, and I shall curse your blessings. And indeed, I have cursed them, because you do not take it to heart.
3 “See, I shall rebuke your seed, and scatter dung before your faces, the dung of your festivals. And you shall be taken away with it.
4 “And you shall know that I have sent this command to you, as being My covenant with Lĕwi,” said יהוה of hosts.
5 “My covenant with him was life and peace, and I gave them to him, to fear. And he feared Me, and stood in awe of My Name.
6 “The Torah of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and straightness, and turned many away from crookedness.
7 “For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and they seek the Torah from his mouth, for he is the messenger of יהוה of hosts.