1. “Priests, this command is for you.
2. Listen to me. Pay attention to what I say. Honor my name,” says the Lord of heaven’s armies. “If you don’t, I will send a curse on you. I will curse your blessings. I have already cursed them because you don’t pay attention to what I say.
3. “I will punish your descendants. I will smear your faces with the garbage from your feasts. And you will be thrown away with it.
4. Then you will know why I am giving you this command. It is so that my agreement with Levi will continue,” says the Lord of heaven’s armies.
5. “My agreement for priests was with the tribe of Levi. I promised them life and peace. And I gave these to them so they would honor me. They did honor me and fear me.
6. They taught the true teachings. They spoke no lies. With peace and honesty they did what I said they should do. They kept many people from sinning.