"But as for you, you have turnedasidefrom the way;you have caused manyto stumbleby the instruction;you have corruptedthe covenantof Levi,"saysthe LORDof hosts.
So Urijahthe priestbuiltan altar;according to allthat KingAhazhad sentfrom Damascus,thusUrijahthe priestmade[it], beforethe comingof KingAhazfrom Damascus.
Rememberthem, O my God,becausethey have defiledthe priesthoodand the covenantof the priesthoodand the Levites.
I have not turnedasidefrom Your ordinances,For You Yourselfhave taughtme.
For I have keptthe waysof the LORD,And have not wickedlydepartedfrom my God.
A manwill be praisedaccordingto his insight,But one of perversemindwill be despised.
"Getout of the way,turnasidefrom the path,Let us hearnomoreabout the HolyOneof Israel."
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.
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.
Thussaysthe LORD,"Cursedis the manwhotrustsin mankindAnd makesfleshhis strength,And whose heartturnsawayfrom the LORD.
For My peoplehave forgottenMe, They burnincenseto worthlessgods And they have stumbledfrom their ways,From the ancientpaths,To walkin bypaths,Not on a highway,
"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.
"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.
"But the Leviteswhowentfarfrom Me when Israelwentastray,whowentastrayfrom Me aftertheir idols,shall bearthe punishmentfor their iniquity.
"Becausethey ministeredto them beforetheir idolsand becamea stumblingblockof iniquityto the houseof Israel,thereforeI have swornagainstthem," declaresthe LordGOD,"that they shall bear[the punishmentfor] their iniquity.
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.
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.
so that he will not profanehis offspringamong his people;for I am the LORDwho sanctifieshim.'"
Her prophetsare reckless,treacherousmen;Her priestshave profanedthe sanctuary.They have doneviolenceto the law.
"'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?'
"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.
"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.'"
It is goodnot to eatmeatorto drinkwine,or[to do anything] by whichyour brotherstumbles.
Take care,brethren,that there not be in any oneof you an evil,unbelievingheartthat falls awayfrom the livingGod.
Thus the sinof the youngmenwas verygreatbeforethe LORD,for the mendespisedthe offeringof the LORD.
"No,my sons;for the reportis not goodwhichI hearthe LORD'Speoplecirculating.
"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.
