The Prophet Malachi

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

And now, O priests, this command is to you.

If you will refuse to listen, and if you will refuse to take it to heart, so as to give glory to my name, says the Lord of hosts, I will send destitution upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yes, I will curse them. For you have not taken it to heart.

Behold, I will cast forth an arm to you, and I will scatter across your face the dung of your solemnities, and it will take you to itself.(a)

And you will know that I sent you this commandment, so that my covenant might be with Levi, says the Lord of hosts.

My covenant was with him for life and peace. And I gave him fear, and he feared me, and he was afraid before the face of my name.

The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and integrity, and he turned away many from iniquity.

For the lips of the priests will keep knowledge, and they will request the law from his mouth, because he is an angel of the Lord of hosts.(b)

But you have withdrawn from the way, and you have scandalized very many in the law. You have nullified the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts.

Because of this, I also have made you contemptible and debased to all the people, just as you have not served my ways, and you have accepted a face in the law.(c)

Judah’s Unfaithfulness

Is there not one Father of us all? Did not one God create us? Why, then, does each one of us despise his brother, violating the covenant of our fathers?

Judah has transgressed, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has contaminated the sanctified of the Lord, which he loved, and has held the daughter of a strange god.(d)

The Lord will drive away the man who has done this, both the teacher and the disciple, from the tabernacles of Jacob and from those offering a gift to the Lord of hosts.(e)

And you have done this repeatedly: you have covered the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and bellowing, to such an extent that I no longer have respect towards the sacrifice, nor do I accept any appeasement that is from your hands.(f)

And you have said, “What is the reason for this?” It is because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, whom you have despised. Yet she was your partner, and the wife of your covenant.

Did not One make her, and is she not the remainder of his spirit? And what does one seek, except offspring of God? So then, preserve your spirit, and do not despise the wife of your youth.

If you would hold hatred, dismiss her, says the Lord, the God of Israel. But iniquity will cover his garment, says the Lord of hosts. Preserve your spirit, and do not be willing to despise.(g)

(h)

You have wearied the Lord with your speeches, and you have said, “In what way, have we wearied him?” In that you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and such as these please him,” or certainly, “Where is the God of judgment?”

Footnotes

(a)2:3 I will cast the shoulder to you:I will cast away the shoulder, which in the law was appointed to be your portion, and fling it at you in my anger: and will reject both you and your festivals like dung.(Challoner)

(b)2:7 The angel:Viz., the minister and messenger.(Challoner)

(c)2:9 This last phrase could mean that the priests have accepted the law superficially, or that the priests have shown partiality in the law by accepting one person above another, or that the priests have taken their face (based their reputation and outward appearances) on the law, but without following it.(Conte)

(d)2:11 The word ‘sanctificationem’ means holiness or sanctity, or something that is holy or sanctified. In the Catholic view, this may refer to the Sacraments, and particularly to the Sacrament of the Eucharist; it may also refer to those who are sanctified by the Sacraments.(Conte)

(e)2:12 This last phrase could mean that God prevents those that have offended Him from offering a gift to Him; or it could mean that those who offend are prevented from joining those who offer a gift.(Conte)

(f)2:13 With tears:Viz., by occasion of your wives, whom you have put away: and who came to weep and lament before the altar.(Challoner)

(g)2:16 The first part of this verse could be interpreted to mean that, if you hold hatred for your wife, send her away (but then iniquity will be your garment). Or it could be interpreted to mean, if you hold hatred, send the hatred away, in which iniquity will not be your garment.(Conte)

(h)2:16 Iniquity shall cover his garment:Viz., of every man that puts away his wife without just cause; notwithstanding that God permitted it in the law, to prevent the evil of murder.(Challoner)

“Now, you priests, this commandment is for you.

If you will not listen, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to my name,” says the LORD of Armies, “then I will send the curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart.

Behold, I will rebuke your offspring,(a) and will spread dung on your faces, even the dung of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it.

You will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that my covenant may be with Levi,” says the LORD of Armies.

“My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him that he might be reverent toward me; and he was reverent toward me, and stood in awe of my name.

The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity.

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 Armies.

But you have turned away from the path. You have caused many to stumble in the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Armies.

“Therefore I have also made you contemptible and wicked before all the people, according to the way you have not kept my ways, but have had respect for persons in the law.

Judah’s Unfaithfulness

Don’t we all have one father? Hasn’t one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?

Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.

The LORD will cut off the man who does this, him who wakes and him who answers, out of the tents of Jacob and him who offers an offering to the LORD of Armies.

“This again you do: you cover the LORD’s altar with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, because he doesn’t regard the offering any more, neither receives it with good will at your hand.

Yet you say, ‘Why?’ Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and the wife of your covenant.

Did he not make you one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? Why one? He sought godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

One who hates and divorces”, says the LORD, the God of Israel, “covers his garment with violence!” says the LORD of Armies. “Therefore pay attention to your spirit, that you don’t be unfaithful.

You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, ‘How have we wearied him?’ In that you say, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in the LORD’s sight, and he delights in them;’ or ‘Where is the God of justice?’

Footnotes

(a)2:3 or, seed