True and False Priests
1 I, the Lord All-Powerful, have something else to say to you priests. 2 You had better take seriously the need to honor my name. Otherwise, when you give a blessing, I will turn it into a curse. In fact, I have already done this, because you haven't taken to heart your duties as priests. 3 I will punish your descendants and rub your faces in the manure from your animal sacrifices, and then be done with you.
4 I am telling you this, so I can continue to keep my agreement with your ancestor Levi. 5 I blessed him with a full life, as I had promised, and he kept his part of the agreement by honoring me and respecting my name. 6 He taught the truth and never told lies, and he led a lot of people to turn from sin, because he obeyed me and lived right.
7 You priests should be eager to spread knowledge, and everyone should come to you for instruction, because you speak for me, the Lord All-Powerful. 8 But you have turned your backs on me. Your teachings have led others to do sinful things, and you have broken the agreement I made with your ancestor Levi. 9 So I caused everyone to hate and despise you, because you disobeyed me and failed to treat all people alike.
A Broken Agreement
10 Don't you know that we all have God as our Father? Didn't the one God create each of us? Then why do you cheat each other by breaking the agreement God made with your ancestors? 11 You people in Judah and Jerusalem have been unfaithful to the Lord. You have disgraced the temple that he loves, and you have committed the disgusting sin of marrying the worshipers of other gods. 12 I pray that the Lord will no longer let those who are guilty belong to his people, even if they eagerly decide to offer the Lord a gift.
13 And what else are you doing? You cry noisily and flood the Lord's altar with your tears, because he isn't pleased with your offerings and refuses to accept them. 14 And why isn't God pleased? It's because he knows that each of you men has been unfaithful to the wife you married when you were young. You promised that she would be your partner, but now you have broken that promise. 15 Didn't God create you and your wife to become like one person? And why did he do this? It was so you would have children, and then lead them to become God's people. Don't ever be unfaithful to your wife. 16 The Lord God All-Powerful of Israel hates anyone who is cruel enough to divorce his wife. So take care never to be unfaithful!
17 You have worn out the Lord with your words. And yet, you ask, “How did we do that?”
You did it by saying, “The Lord is pleased with evil and doesn't care about justice.”
Pamācība priesteriem
1 Tagad jums, priesteri, šī pavēle:
2 ja jūs neklausīsiet,
ja neņemsiet vērā,
ja negodāsiet manu vārdu,
saka Pulku Kungs,
tad es jums uzsūtīšu lāstu
un jūsu svētības par lāstiem padarīšu,
pat nolādēšu,
jo jūs neko neņemat vērā!
3 Redzi, es atņemšu jums sēklu,
es sviedīšu mēslus jums sejā,
mēslus no jūsu svētkiem,
lai jūs izmēž kopā ar tiem!
4 Tad jūs zināsiet,
ka es jums esmu devis šo pavēli,
lai saglabātu savu derību ar Levī,
saka Pulku Kungs.
5 Man ar viņu bija dzīvības un miera derība,
to es viņam devu, –
bijājams! – un viņš bijās manis,
un mana vārda priekšā viņš zemojās.
6 Viņa mutē bija patiesības bauslība,
netaisnība uz viņa lūpām neatradās,
mierā un taisnībā viņš staigāja kopā ar mani,
daudzus viņš novērsa no grēka!
7 Jo priestera lūpām jāglabā atziņa,
ar savu muti tam jādzenas pēc bauslības,
jo viņš ir Pulku Kunga vēstnesis!
8 Bet jūs novērsāties no ceļa,
daudziem likāt klupt bauslībā,
sagandējāt Levī derību! –
saka Pulku Kungs.
9 Tādēļ es jūs padarīju nicināmus,
nievājamus visā tautā,
jo jums mani ceļi nerūp
un draugu būšana jums svarīgāka par bauslību!”
Jūda ir lauzis derību
10 Vai mums visiem nav viens tēvs?
Vai viens Dievs mūs visus nav radījis?
Kādēļ jūs krāpjat cits citu,
sagānīdami mūsu tēvu derību?!
11 Jūda krāpjas un dara preteklības
gan Jeruzālemē, gan Israēlā,
jo Jūda apgānījis Kunga svētnīcu, ko viņš mīlējis,
un apprecējis sveša dieva meitu!
12 Kungs iznīdēs to, kurš tā dara!
Atmodinātais atbild no Jēkaba teltīm
un nes dāvanu Pulku Kungam!
13 Atkal un atkal jūs darāt tāpat!
Ar asarām klājat Kunga altāri,
raudat un vaimanājat!
Es vairs nevaru noskatīties uz jūsu dāvanām
vai ņemt ko ar prieku no jūsu rokām!
14 Jūs sakāt: kādēļ?! –
Par to, ka Kungs ir dabūjis liecinieku
pret tevi un tavu jaunības sievu, kuru tu piekrāpi, –
viņa bija tava draudzene un tavas derības sieva!
15 Viņš viens tā nedarīja, viņam vēl atlicis gars!
Vai tad viņš viens meklēja Dieva sēklu?!
Sargiet savu garu –
nekrāpiet jaunībā apņemto sievu!
16 “Kas viņu nīst un padzen,”
saka Kungs, Israēla Dievs,
“tas aptraipa savas drānas ar varmācību,
saka Pulku Kungs,
sargiet savu garu un nekrāpiet!”
17 Jūs nogurdināt Kungu ar saviem vārdiem,
jūs sakāt: kā tad mēs esam nogurdinājuši?! –
Ar saviem vārdiem: ikviens, kas dara ļaunu,
ir labs Kunga acīs,
tas viņam tīkams!
Vai: kur tad ir Dieva spriedums?
