³⁴ Afterward, Joshua read aloud all the words of the law—the blessings as well as the curses—according to all that is written in the book of the law.

The Book of the Law Found

⁸ The high priest Hilkiah told the court secretary Shaphan, “I have found the book of the law^(A) in the Lord’s temple,” and he gave the book to Shaphan, who read it.

³ While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate,^(A) he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively^[a] to the book of the law.^(B)

⁸ They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.

¹⁸ Ezra^[a] read out of the book of the law of God^(A) every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.^(B)

³ While they stood in their places,^(A) they read from the book of the law of the Lord their God for a fourth of the day and spent another fourth of the day^(B) in confession^(C) and worship of the Lord their God.

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)