"Ohthat there were one among you who would shutthe gates,that you might not uselesslykindle[fire on] My altar!I am not pleasedwith you," saysthe LORDof hosts,"norwill I acceptan offeringfrom you.
But it cameabout that in the twenty-thirdyearof KingJehoashthe priestshad not repairedthe damagesof the house.
The sacrificeof the wickedis an abominationto the LORD,But the prayerof the uprightis His delight.
Thussaysthe LORDto thispeople,"Even sothey have lovedto wander;they have not kepttheir feetin check.Therefore the LORDdoes not acceptthem; nowHe will remembertheir iniquityand calltheir sinsto account."
"Whenthey fast,I am not going to listento their cry;and whenthey offerburntofferingand grain offering,I am not going to acceptthem. RatherI am going to makean endof them by the sword,famineand pestilence."
"For from the leastof them even to the greatestof them, Everyoneis greedyfor gain,And from the propheteven to the priestEveryonedealsfalsely.
"For whatpurposedoes frankincensecometo Me from ShebaAnd the sweetcanefrom a distantland?Your burntofferingsare not acceptableAnd your sacrificesare not pleasingto Me."
"ThereforeI will givetheir wivesto others,Their fieldsto newowners;Becausefrom the leasteven to the greatestEveryoneis greedyfor gain;From the propheteven to the priestEveryonepracticesdeceit.
They will gowith their flocksand herdsTo seekthe LORD,but they will not find[Him]; He has withdrawnfrom them.
Her leaderspronouncejudgmentfor a bribe,Her priestsinstructfor a priceAnd her prophetsdivinefor money.Yet they leanon the LORDsaying,"Is not the LORDin our midst?Calamitywill not comeupon us."
"You also say,My, howtiresomeit is!' And you disdainfullysniffat it," saysthe LORDof hosts,"and you bringwhat was takenby robberyand [what is] lameor sick;so you bringthe offering!Should I receivethat from your hand?"saysthe LORD.
"[As] for the manwhodoesthis, may the LORDcutofffrom the tentsof Jacob[everyone] who awakesand answers,or who presentsan offeringto the LORDof hosts.
"Thisis anotherthingyou do:you coverthe altarof the LORDwith tears,with weepingand with groaning,becauseHe nolongerregardsthe offeringor accepts[it with] favorfrom your hand.
"He who is a hired hand,and not a shepherd,whois not the ownerof the sheep,seesthe wolfcoming,and leavesthe sheepand flees,and the wolfsnatchesthem and scatters[them].
Do you not knowthat thosewho performsacred serviceseatthe [food] of the temple,[and] thosewho attend regularlyto the altarhave their sharefrom the altar?
For they allseek aftertheir owninterests, not thoseof ChristJesus.
BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONESHALL LIVEBY FAITH;AND IFHE SHRINKS BACK,MY SOULHASNOPLEASUREIN HIM.
shepherdthe flockof Godamongyou, exercising oversightnot under compulsion,but voluntarily,accordingto [the will of] God;and not for sordid gain,but with eagerness;
