"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.
shepherdthe flockof Godamongyou, exercising oversightnot under compulsion,but voluntarily,accordingto [the will of] God;and not for sordid gain,but with eagerness;
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."
They will gowith their flocksand herdsTo seekthe LORD,but they will not find[Him]; He has withdrawnfrom them.
"For whatpurposedoes frankincensecometo Me from ShebaAnd the sweetcanefrom a distantland?Your burntofferingsare not acceptableAnd your sacrificesare not pleasingto Me."
"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."
"ThereforeI will givetheir wivesto others,Their fieldsto newowners;Becausefrom the leasteven to the greatestEveryoneis greedyfor gain;From the propheteven to the priestEveryonepracticesdeceit.
BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONESHALL LIVEBY FAITH;AND IFHE SHRINKS BACK,MY SOULHASNOPLEASUREIN HIM.
For they allseek aftertheir owninterests, not thoseof ChristJesus.
Do you not knowthat thosewho performsacred serviceseatthe [food] of the temple,[and] thosewho attend regularlyto the altarhave their sharefrom the altar?
"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].
"For from the leastof them even to the greatestof them, Everyoneis greedyfor gain,And from the propheteven to the priestEveryonedealsfalsely.
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."
"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.
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.
"Thisis anotherthingyou do:you coverthe altarof the LORDwith tears,with weepingand with groaning,becauseHe nolongerregardsthe offeringor accepts[it with] favorfrom your hand.
