Malachi 2
(1) Israel’s Priests Violate God’s Alliance with Levi
The Existing One of armies says,
“And now this command is for you, oh priests:
“If you don’t listen or genuinely try to boost my reputation, then I’ll put you and your blessings under a curse. In fact, I’ve already cursed them since you haven’t been taking this to heart! I will disapprove of your kids and smear vomit on your faces—the vomit from your own feasts—and you’ll be dragged away to it. Then you’ll know that it was I who gave you this command, and that My alliance is with Levi [whose name means ‘joined to’].”
Says the Existing One of armies.
“My alliance with Levi was characterized by life, peace, and completeness. I gave him those qualities as a mark of reverence, which is why he revered Me and respected My name. His mouth always had truthful advice to share, and his lips never had anything bad to say. He walked with Me in peace, completeness, and uprightness. He turned lots of people’s lives around, turning them away from corruption. Priests should use their mouths to preserve knowledge, and people should go to them for advice since they represent the Existing One of armies. But you have turned away from that path, causing lots of people to stumble regarding God’s instructions. You have violated the alliance I had with Levi.”
Says the Existing One of armies.
(9) God Rejects Disrespectful Israelites
“So now I’ve pulled you down in front of everyone, and I’ve made everyone despise you. That mirrors how you’ve failed to implement my ways—instead, you just pick and choose which of My ways you want to follow.”
“Don’t you all have the same Dad? Weren’t all of you created by the same God? So why do you trick each other when you’re all siblings and profane the alliance of your forefathers? Judah has been doing treacherous things—repulsive things have been taking place in Israel and Jerusalem. The Existing One cherishes His own sacredness, but Judah has profaned that and married the daughter of a foreign god. If anyone does that, may the Existing One sever that person’s ties with Jacob whenever that person calls out to the Existing One of armies or presents Him with a gift.
(13) Have Good Conduct
“Here’s something else you do: you cry and moan, covering the Existing One’s altar with tears when He doesn’t accept your gift or even look at it. You ask ‘why,’ but it’s because He sees how offensively you treat your wife, after pledging to take her as your wife and companion. But didn’t He make the two of you into one unit to produce godly children even though He already had the Spirit? So pay attention to your spirit, and don’t let anyone treat their wife offensively. After all, I hate divorce,”
Says Israel’s God, the Existing One.
“I also hate anyone who covers their clothes with injustice.”
Says the Existing One of armies.
“So make sure—down to the core of your spirit—that you avoid conducting yourselves treacherously.”
(17) God is Fatigued by Israel
Your words have made the Existing One weary, yet you ask,
“How have we wearied Him?”
You weary Him by saying,
“Even if someone does bad things, the Existing One still views them as good, and delights in them.”
It also wearies Him when you ask,
“Where is the God of justice?”