²⁴ These are the words which Moses said to Aaron and to his sons and to all the children of Israel.

¹ And now, O you priests, this order is for you.

² If you will not give ear and take it to heart, to give glory to my name, says the Lord of armies, then I will send the curse on you and will put a curse on your blessing: truly, even now I have put a curse on it, because you do not take it to heart.

³ See, I will have your arm cut off, and will put waste on your faces, even the waste from your feasts; and you will be taken away with it.

⁴ And you will be certain that I have sent this order to you, so that it might be my agreement with Levi, says the Lord of armies.

⁵ My agreement with him was on my side life and peace, and I gave them to him; on his side fear, and he had fear of me and gave honour to my name.

⁶ True teaching was in his mouth, and no evil was seen on his lips: he was walking with me in peace and righteousness, turning numbers of people away from evil-doing.

⁷ For it is right for the priest's lips to keep knowledge, and for men to be waiting for the law from his mouth: for he is the servant sent from the Lord of armies.

¹⁷ Say to Archippus, See that you do the work which the Lord has given you to do.

¹⁸ This order I give to you, Timothy my son, in harmony with the words of the prophets about you, so that by them you may be strong, fighting the good fight,

² And the things which I have said to you before a number of witnesses, give to those of the faith, so that they may be teachers of others.