Malachi 3

(Matthew 11:7–19; Luke 7:24–35)

1“BeholdH2005, I will sendH7971 My messengerH4397, who will prepareH6437 the wayH1870 before MeH6440.1 Then the LordH113 whomH834 youH859 seekH1245 will suddenlyH6597 comeH935 toH413 His templeH1964—the MessengerH4397 of the covenantH1285, in whomH834 youH859 delightH2655—seeH2009, He is comingH935,” saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635.

2But whoH4310 can endureH3557 the dayH3117 of His comingH935? And whoH4310 can standH5975 when He appearsH7200? ForH3588 HeH1931 will be like a refiner’sH6884 fireH784, like a launderer’sH3526 soapH1287.

3And He will sitH3427 as a refinerH6884 and purifierH2891 of silverH3701; He will purifyH2891 the sonsH1121 of LeviH3878 and refineH2212 themH853 like goldH2091 and silverH3701H1961. Then they will presentH5066 offeringsH4503 to the LORDH3068 in righteousnessH6666.

4Then the offeringsH4503 of JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389 will pleaseH6149 the LORDH3068, as in daysH3117 of oldH5769 and yearsH8141 gone byH6931.

5“Then I will draw nearH7126 to youH413 for judgmentH4941. And I will beH1961 a swiftH4116 witnessH5707 against sorcerersH3784 and adulterersH5003 andH7650 perjurersH8267, against oppressorsH6231 of the widowedH490 and fatherlessH3490, and against those who defraud laborersH7939 of their wagesH7916 and deny justiceH5186 to the foreignerH1616 but do notH3808 fear MeH3372,” saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635.

Robbing God

6“BecauseH3588 IH589, the LORDH3068, do notH3808 changeH8138, youH859 descendantsH1121 of JacobH3290 have notH3808 been destroyedH3615. 7Yet from the daysH3117 of your fathersH1, you have turned awayH5493 from My statutesH2706 and have notH3808 kept themH8104. ReturnH7725 to MeH413, and I will returnH7725 to youH413,” saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635.

“But you askH559, ‘HowH4100 can we returnH7725?’

8Will a manH120 robH6906 GodH430? YetH3588 youH859 are robbingH6906 MeH853!

But you askH559, ‘HowH4100 do we rob YouH6906?’

In tithesH4643 and offeringsH8641. 9YouH859 are cursedH779 with a curseH3994, yet youH859—the wholeH3605 nationH1471—are still robbing MeH6906. 10BringH935 the fullH3605 titheH4643 intoH413 the storehouseH1004H214, so that there may beH1961 foodH2964 in My houseH1004. Test MeH974H4994 in thisH2063,” saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635. “See ifH518 I will notH3808 openH6605 the windowsH699 of heavenH8064 and pour outH7324 for you blessingH1293H5704 withoutH1097 measureH1767.2 11I will rebukeH1605 the devourerH3983 for you, so that it will notH3808 destroyH7843 the fruitsH6529 of your landH127, and the vineH1612 in your fieldH7704 will notH3808 fail to produce fruitH7921,” saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635.

12“Then allH3605 the nationsH1471 will call you blessedH833, forH3588 youH859 will beH1961 a landH776 of delightH2656,” saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635.

The Book of Remembrance

13“Your wordsH1697 against MeH5921 have been harshH2388,” saysH559 the LORDH3068. “Yet you askH559, ‘WhatH4100 have we spokenH1696 against YouH5921?’

14You have saidH559, ‘It is futileH7723 to serveH5647 GodH430. WhatH4100 have we gainedH1215H3588 by keepingH8104 His requirementsH4931H3588 and walkingH1980 mournfullyH6941 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635? 15So nowH6258 weH587 call the arrogantH2086 blessedH833. Not onlyH1571 do evildoersH6213H7564 prosperH1129, they evenH1571 testH974 GodH430 and escapeH4422.’”

16At that timeH227 those who fearedH3373 the LORDH3068 spokeH1696 with oneH376H854 anotherH7453, and the LORDH3068 listenedH7181 and heardH8085 them. So a scrollH5612 of remembranceH2146 was writtenH3789 before HimH6440 regarding those who fearedH3373 the LORDH3068 and honoredH2803 His nameH8034.

17“They will beH1961 Mine,” saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635, “on the dayH3117 whenH834 IH589 prepareH6213 My treasured possessionH5459. And I will spareH2550 themH5921 asH834 a manH376 sparesH2550 his ownH5921 sonH1121 who servesH5647 himH853. 18So you will againH7725 distinguishH7200 betweenH996 the righteousH6662 and the wickedH7563, betweenH996 those who serveH5647 GodH430 and those whoH834 do notH3808H5647.”