Warning to the Priests

2 “Therefore, this decree^(A) is for you priests: ² If you don’t listen, and if you don’t take it to heart^(B) to honor my name,” says the Lord of Armies, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings.^(C) In fact, I have already begun to curse them because you are not taking it to heart.

³ “Look, I am going to rebuke your descendants,^(D) and I will spread animal waste^[a] over your faces, the waste from your festival sacrifices,^(E) and you will be taken away with it. ⁴ Then you will know that I sent you this decree, so that my covenant with Levi^(F) may continue,” says the Lord of Armies. ⁵ “My covenant with him was one of life and peace,^(G) and I gave these to him; it called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.^{(H) 6} True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me^(I) in peace and integrity and turned many from iniquity.^{(J) 7} For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should desire instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the Lord of Armies.^(K)

⁸ “You, on the other hand, have turned from the way.^(L) You have caused many to stumble^(M) by your instruction. You have violated^[b] the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of Armies. ⁹ “So I in turn have made you despised^(N) and humiliated before all the people because you are not keeping my ways but are showing partiality in your instruction.”^(O)

⁵ Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity,^(A) lust,^(B) evil desire, and greed,^(C) which is idolatry.^{(D) 6} Because of these, God’s wrath^(E) is coming upon the disobedient,^{[a] 7} and you once walked in these things when you were living^(F) in them. ⁸ But now, put away^(G) all the following: anger,^(H) wrath,^(I) malice,^(J) slander,^(K) and filthy language from your mouth.^{(L) 9} Do not lie^(M) to one another, since you have put off^(N) the old self^(O) with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on^(P) the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your^[b] Creator.^{(Q) 11} In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.^(R)

The Christian Life

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved,^(S) put on compassion, kindness,^(T) humility,^(U) gentleness,^(V) and patience,^{(W) 13} bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.^{(X) 14} Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called^(Y) in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,^[c] singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name^(Z) of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Living Stone and a Holy People

2 Therefore, rid yourselves of^(A) all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.^{(B) 2} Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word,^[a](C) so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, ³ if you have tasted^(D) that the Lord is good.^{[b](E) 4} As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by^[c] God— ⁵ you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood^[d] to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God^(F) through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it stands in Scripture:

⁷ So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving,

⁸ and

They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined^(L) for this.