And now, O ye priests, this commandment is to you. 2If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, saith the Lord of hosts: I will send poverty upon you, and will curse your blessings, yea I will curse them, because you have not laid it to heart. 3Behold, I will cast the shoulder to you, and will scatter upon your face the dung of your solemnities, and it shall take you away with it. 4And you shall know that I sent you this commandment, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. 5My covenant was with him of life and peace: and I gave him fear: and he feared me, and he was afraid before my name. 6The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace, and in equity, and turned many away from iniquity. 7For the lips of the priests shall keep knowledge, and they shall seek the law at his mouth: because he is the angel of the Lord of hosts. 8But you have departed out of the way, and have caused many to stumble at the law: you have made void the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. 9Therefore have I also made you contemptible, and base before all people, as you have not kept my ways, and have accepted persons in the law.