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Chapter 2
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1
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And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. |
2
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If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart,
to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts,
I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your
blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye
do not lay it to heart. |
3
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Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon
your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and
one shall take you away with it. |
4
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And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment
unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith
the LORD of hosts. |
5
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My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave
them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and
was afraid before my name. |
6
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The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was
not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and
equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. |
7
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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. |
8
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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. |
9
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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. |
10
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Have we not all one father? hath not one God created
us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his
brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? |
11
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Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination
is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath
profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and
hath married the daughter of a strange god. |
12
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The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the
master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob,
and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts. |
13
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And this have ye done again, covering the altar of
the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out,
insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more,
or receiveth it with good will at your hand. |
14
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Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness
between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom
thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion,
and the wife of thy covenant. |
15
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And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of
the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly
seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none
deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. |
16
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For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth
putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment,
saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your
spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. |
17
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Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say,
Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that
doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth
in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? |
