transgressing and denying Yahweh, and turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

Thus says Yahweh: Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from Yahweh.

But the Levites who went far from me, when Israel went astray, who went astray from me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.

we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from your precepts and from your ordinances;

Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God;

Ye have caused

"Therefore I have also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according to the way you have not kept my ways, but have had respect for persons in the law.

The sin of the young men was very great before Yahweh; for the men despised the offering of Yahweh.

For those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed.

For my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to false [gods]; and they have been made to stumble in their ways, in the ancient paths, to walk in byways, in a way not built up;

for both prophet and priest are profane; yes, in my house have I found their wickedness, says Yahweh.

"Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat bread."

One of the lawyers answered him, "Teacher, in saying this you insult us also."

and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,

It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.

Ye have corrupted

"My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him that he might be reverent toward me; and he was reverent toward me, and stood in awe of my name.

He shall not profane his seed among his people: for I am Yahweh who sanctifies him.'"

Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

General references

The Levites shall answer, and tell all the men of Israel with a loud voice,

They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.