Malachi 2:4-7
2:4 Then you will know that I sent this commandment to you so that my covenant 1 may continue to be with Levi,” says the Lord who rules over all.
2:5 “My covenant with him was designed to bring life and peace. I gave its statutes to him to fill him with awe, and he indeed revered me and stood in awe before me.
2:6 He taught what was true; 2 sinful words were not found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and integrity, and he turned many people away from sin.
2:7 For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge of sacred things, and people should seek instruction from him 3 because he is the messenger of the Lord who rules over all.
1 sn My covenant refers to the priestly covenant through Aaron and his grandson Phinehas (see Exod 6:16-20; Num 25:10-13; Jer 33:21-22). The point here is to contrast the priestly ideal with the disgraceful manner in which it was being carried out in postexilic times.
2 tn Heb “True teaching was in his mouth”; cf. NASB, NRSV “True instruction (doctrine NAB) was in his mouth.”
3 tn Heb “from his mouth” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV).