"But as for you, you have turnedasidefrom the way;you have caused manyto stumbleby the instruction;you have corruptedthe covenantof Levi,"saysthe LORDof hosts.
Rememberthem, O my God,becausethey have defiledthe priesthoodand the covenantof the priesthoodand the Levites.
For My peoplehave forgottenMe, They burnincenseto worthlessgods And they have stumbledfrom their ways,From the ancientpaths,To walkin bypaths,Not on a highway,
"My covenantwith him was [one of] lifeand peace,and I gavethem to him [as an object of] reverence;so he reveredMe and stoodin aweof My name.
"But the Leviteswhowentfarfrom Me when Israelwentastray,whowentastrayfrom Me aftertheir idols,shall bearthe punishmentfor their iniquity.
Thussaysthe LORD,"Cursedis the manwhotrustsin mankindAnd makesfleshhis strength,And whose heartturnsawayfrom the LORD.
"Getout of the way,turnasidefrom the path,Let us hearnomoreabout the HolyOneof Israel."
Thus the sinof the youngmenwas verygreatbeforethe LORD,for the mendespisedthe offeringof the LORD.
Take care,brethren,that there not be in any oneof you an evil,unbelievingheartthat falls awayfrom the livingGod.
It is goodnot to eatmeatorto drinkwine,or[to do anything] by whichyour brotherstumbles.
Transgressingand denyingthe LORD,And turningawayfrom our God,Speakingoppressionand revolt,Conceiving[in] and utteringfrom the heartlyingwords.
For those who guidethispeopleare leading[them] astray;And those who are guidedby them are broughtto confusion.
I have not turnedasidefrom Your ordinances,For You Yourselfhave taughtme.
For I have keptthe waysof the LORD,And have not wickedlydepartedfrom my God.
"Thereforethe LORDGodof Israeldeclares,I did indeedsaythat your houseand the houseof your fathershould walkbeforeMe forever;but nowthe LORDdeclares,'Farbe it from Me-- for those who honorMe I will honor,and those who despiseMe will be lightlyesteemed.
"No,my sons;for the reportis not goodwhichI hearthe LORD'Speoplecirculating.
so that he will not profanehis offspringamong his people;for I am the LORDwho sanctifieshim.'"
O LORD,the hopeof Israel,Allwho forsakeYou will be putto shame.Those who turnawayon earthwill be writtendown,Becausethey have forsakenthe fountainof livingwater,even the LORD.
"Thereforesay,Behold,I givehim My covenantof peace;
and it shall be for him and his descendantsafterhim, a covenantof a perpetualpriesthood,becausehe was jealousfor his Godand madeatonementfor the sonsof Israel.'"
"The priestsdid not say,'Whereis the LORD?'And those who handlethe lawdid not knowMe; The rulersalso transgressedagainst Me, And the prophetsprophesiedby BaalAnd walkedafterthings that did not profit.
My peopleare destroyedfor lackof knowledge.Becauseyou have rejectedknowledge,I also will rejectyou from being My priest.Since you have forgottenthe lawof your God,I alsowill forgetyour children.
Her prophetsare reckless,treacherousmen;Her priestshave profanedthe sanctuary.They have doneviolenceto the law.
So Urijahthe priestbuiltan altar;according to allthat KingAhazhad sentfrom Damascus,thusUrijahthe priestmade[it], beforethe comingof KingAhazfrom Damascus.
A manwill be praisedaccordingto his insight,But one of perversemindwill be despised.
"Her priestshave doneviolenceto My lawand have profanedMy holythings;they have madenodistinctionbetweenthe holyand the profane,and they have not taughtthe difference betweenthe uncleanand the clean;and they hidetheir eyesfrom My sabbaths,and I am profanedamongthem.
when you broughtin foreigners,uncircumcisedin heartand uncircumcisedin flesh,to be in My sanctuaryto profaneit, [even] My house,when you offeredMy food,the fatand the blood;for they madeMy covenantvoid--[this] in additionto allyour abominations.
"Becausethey ministeredto them beforetheir idolsand becamea stumblingblockof iniquityto the houseof Israel,thereforeI have swornagainstthem," declaresthe LordGOD,"that they shall bear[the punishmentfor] their iniquity.
"'A sonhonors[his] father,and a servanthis master.Then ifI am a father,whereis My honor?And ifI am a master,whereis My respect?'saysthe LORDof hoststo you, O priestswho despiseMy name.But you say,'Howhave we despisedYour name?'
