“ The lips of a priest should guard knowledge. After all, he is the messenger of the Lord who rules over all. And people seek instruction from his mouth.

祭司的嘴里当存知识，人也当由他口中寻求律法，因为他是万军之耶和华的使者。

祭司的嘴唇当守护知识，人也当从他口中寻求训诲，因为他是万军之耶和华的使者。

祭司的嘴唇当守护知识，人也当从他口中寻求训诲，因为他是万军之耶和华的使者。

祭司的嘴唇应持守知识，人民应从他口中寻求训诲，因为他是万军之耶和华的使者。

祭司的嘴当保存知识，人要从他的口中寻求教训，因为他是万军耶和华的使者。

祭司的嘴当谨守知识，人当从他口中寻求训诲，因为他是万军之耶和华的使者。”

祭司的嘴裏當存知識，人也當由他口中尋求律法，因為他是萬軍之耶和華的使者。

祭司的嘴唇當守護知識，人也當從他口中尋求訓誨，因為他是萬軍之耶和華的使者。

祭司的嘴唇當守護知識，人也當從他口中尋求訓誨，因為他是萬軍之耶和華的使者。

祭司的嘴唇應持守知識，人民應從他口中尋求訓誨，因為他是萬軍之耶和華的使者。

祭司的嘴當保存知識，人要從他的口中尋求教訓，因為他是萬軍耶和華的使者。

因為祭司嘴裏應當保存着知識，人也應該從他口中尋求禮節規矩，因為他是萬軍之永恆主的使者。

祭司的嘴當謹守知識，人當從他口中尋求訓誨，因為他是萬軍之耶和華的使者。」

祭司之脣、宜存智識、人當求法律於其口、以其為萬軍耶和華之使也、

維彼祭司、宜有智慧、既為萬有之主耶和華所遣、人當就彼、諮諏法度、

知識宜在祭司之口、原文作祭司之唇當守知識既為萬有之主之使者、人當由其口求律法、

“ For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.

For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

“ The words of a priest’s lips should preserve knowledge of God, and people should go to him for instruction, for the priest is the messenger of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

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.

For the lips of a priest should maintain knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of armies.

“ For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of hosts.

For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts.

For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he[ is] the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge of sacred things, and people should seek instruction from him because he is the messenger of the LORD who rules over all.

For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Yahweh of Armies.

Then you will be able to teach the Israelites all the rules I have given them through Moses.”

They said,“ Come on. Let’s make plans against Jeremiah. We’ll still have priests to teach us the law. We’ll always have wise people to give us advice. We’ll have prophets to bring us messages from the Lord. So come on. Let’s speak out against Jeremiah. We shouldn’t pay any attention to what he says.”

Anyone who serves the Lord must not be hard to get along with. Instead, they must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach. The one who serves must not hold anything against anyone.They must gently teach those who are against them. Maybe God will give a change of heart to those who are against you. That will lead them to know the truth.

Suppose someone refuses to accept our teaching. They are not turning their back on us. They are turning their back on God. This same God gives you his Holy Spirit.

Haggai was the Lord’ s messenger. So Haggai gave the Lord’ s message to the people. He told them,“ The Lord announces,‘ I am with you.’ ”

The priests, who are sons of Levi, will step forward. The Lord your God has chosen them to serve him. He wants them to bless the people in his name. He wants them to decide all cases that have to do with people arguing and attacking others.

People will bring their cases to your courts. But some cases will be too hard for you to judge. They might be about murders, attacks or other crimes. Then take those hard cases to the place the Lord your God will choose.Go to a priest, who is a Levite. And go to the judge who is in office at that time. Ask them for their decision. They will give it to you.They’ll hand down their decisions at the place the Lord will choose. You must do what they decide. Be careful to do everything they tell you to do.Act according to whatever they teach you. Accept the decisions they give you. Don’t turn away from what they tell you. Don’t turn to the right or the left.

The Lord who rules over all speaks. He says,“ Ask the priests what the law says.Suppose someone carries holy meat in the clothes they are wearing. And the clothes touch some bread or stew. Or they touch some wine, olive oil or other food. Then do these things also become holy?” The priests answered,“ No.”So Haggai said,“ Suppose someone is made‘ unclean’ by touching a dead body. And then they touch one of these things. Does it become‘ unclean’ too?”“ Yes,” the priests replied.“ It does.”

What I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone who accepts someone I send accepts me. And anyone who accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

Ezra had committed himself to study and obey the Law of the Lord. He also wanted to teach the Lord’ s rules and laws in Israel.

And my sickness was hard on you. But you weren’t mean to me. You didn’t make fun of me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God. You welcomed me as if I were Christ Jesus himself.

So we are Christ’s official messengers. It is as if God were making his appeal through us. Here is what Christ wants us to beg you to do. Come back to God!

She followed Paul and the rest of us around. She shouted,“ These men serve the Most High God. They are telling you how to be saved.”

Again Jesus said,“ May peace be with you! The Father has sent me. So now I am sending you.”

Ezra the priest brought the Law out to the whole community. It was the first day of the seventh month. The group was made up of men, women, and children old enough to understand what Ezra was going to read.He read the Law to them from sunrise until noon. He did it as he faced the open area in front of the Water Gate. He read it to the men, the women, and the children old enough to understand. And all the people paid careful attention as Ezra was reading the Book of the Law.Ezra, the teacher of the Law, stood on a high wooden stage. It had been built for the occasion. Mattithiah, Shema and Anaiah stood at his right side. So did Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah. Pedaiah, Mishael and Malkijah stood at his left side. So did Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him. That’s because he was standing above them. As he opened the book, the people stood up.Ezra praised the Lord. He is the great God. All the people lifted up their hands and said,“ Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down. They turned their faces toward the ground and worshiped the Lord.The Levites taught the Law to the people. They remained standing while the Levites taught them. The Levites who were there included Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai and Hodiah. They also included Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah.All these Levites read to the people parts of the Book of the Law of God. They made it clear to them. They told them what it meant. So the people understood what was being read.

The people of Israel serve me. But who is more blind than they are? Who is more deaf than the messengers I send? Who is more blind than the one who has promised to be faithful to me? Who is more blind than the servant of the Lord?

Some Levites were with them. Their names were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob- Adonijah. Elishama and Jehoram, the priests, were also with them.They taught people all through Judah. They took the Book of the Law of the Lord with them. They went around to all the towns of Judah. And they taught the people.

I make the words of my servants the prophets come true. I carry out what my messengers say will happen.“ I say about Jerusalem,‘ My people will live there again.’ I say about the towns of Judah,‘ They will be rebuilt.’ I say about their broken- down buildings,‘ I will make them like new again.’

Hezekiah spoke words that gave hope to all the Levites. They understood how to serve the Lord well. For the seven days of the feast they ate the share given to them. They also sacrificed friendship offerings. They praised the Lord, the God of their people.

The Lord who rules over all says,“ I will send my messenger. He will prepare my way for me. Then suddenly the Lord you are looking for will come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant will come. He is the one you long for.”

What about skin diseases? Be very careful to do exactly what the priests, who are Levites, tell you to do. You must be careful to obey the commands I’ve given them.

So the Lord says to Jeremiah,“ If you turn away from your sins, I will heal you. And then you will be able to serve me. Speak words that are worthy, not worthless. Then you will be speaking for me. Let these people turn to you. But you must not turn to them.

Joshua will stand in front of Eleazar the priest. Eleazar will help him make decisions. Eleazar will get help from me by using the Urim. Joshua and the whole community of Israel must not make any move at all unless I command them to.”