Malachi 1

God’s Love for Jacob

1The 1pronouncementH4853 of the wordH1697 of the LordH3068 to 2IsraelH3478 throughH3027 3MalachiH4401:

2“I have 4lovedH157 you,” saysH559 the LordH3068. But you sayH559, “HowH4100 have You lovedH157 us?” “Was EsauH6215 not Jacob’sH3290 brotherH251?” declaresH5002 the LordH3068. “Yet I 5have lovedH157 JacobH3290; 3but I have hatedH8130 EsauH6215, and I have 6madeH7760 his mountainsH2022 a desolationH8077 and given his inheritanceH5159 to the jackalsH8565 of the wildernessH4057.” 4ThoughH3588 EdomH112 saysH559, “We have been 7beatenH7567 downH7567, but we will 89returnH7725 and buildH1129 upH1129 the ruinsH2723”; thisH3541 isH3541 whatH3541 the LordH3068 of armiesH6635 saysH559: “They may 10buildH1129, but I will tearH2040 downH2040; and people will callH7121 them the 11territoryH1366 of wickednessH7562, and the peopleH5971 12with whomH834 the LordH3068 isH2194 indignantH2194 13foreverH5704H5769.” 5And your eyesH5869 will seeH7200 this, and you will sayH559, “14The LordH3068 15be exaltedH1431 beyondH4480H5921 the 16borderH1366 of IsraelH3478!”

Sin of the Priests

6“‘A sonH1121 17honorsH3513 his fatherH1, and a servantH5650 his masterH113. Then ifH518 I am a 18fatherH1, whereH346 is My honorH3519? And ifH518 I am a masterH113, whereH346 is My 19respectH4172?’ saysH559 the LordH3068 of armiesH6635 to you, the 20priestsH3548 who despiseH959 My nameH8034! But you sayH559, ‘HowH4100 have we despisedH959 Your nameH8034?’ 7You are presentingH5066 21defiledH1351 2223foodH3899 upon My altarH4196. But you sayH559, ‘HowH4100 have we defiledH1351 You?’ In that you sayH559, ‘The 24tableH7979 of the LordH3068 is to beH959 despisedH959.’ 8And whenH3588 you presentH5066 a 25blindH5787 animal for sacrificeH2076, is it not evilH7451? Or whenH3588 you presentH5066 a lameH6455 or sickH2470 animal, is it not evilH7451? SoH4994 offerH7126 it to your 26governorH6346! Would he be pleasedH7521 with you, orH176 would he receiveH5375H6440 you kindlyH6440?” saysH559 the LordH3068 of armiesH6635. 9“But nowH6258, do indeedH4994 27pleadH2470 forH2470 God’sH410 favorH6440, so that He will beH2603 graciousH2603 to us. 28With suchH2088 an offering on your partH3027, will He 29receiveH5375H6440 anyH4480 of you kindlyH6440?” saysH559 the LordH3068 of armiesH6635. 10“IfH4310H1571 onlyH4310H1571 there were one among you who would 30shutH5462 the 31gatesH1817, so that you would not kindleH215 fire on My altarH4196 forH2600 nothingH2600! I am not pleasedH2656 with you,” saysH559 the LordH3068 of armiesH6635, “32norH3808 will I acceptH7521 an offeringH4503 from your hand. 11For from the 33risingH4217 of the sunH8121 even to its settingH3996, 34My nameH8034 shall be 35greatH1419 among the nationsH1471, and in everyH3605 placeH4725 36frankincenseH4729 is going to be offeredH5066H6999 to My nameH8034, and a grain offeringH4503 that is pureH2889; for My nameH8034 shall be 37greatH1419 among the nationsH1471,” saysH559 the LordH3068 of armiesH6635. 12“But you are 38profaningH2490 it by your sayingH559, ‘The tableH7979 of the LordH136 is defiledH1351, and as for its fruitH5204, its foodH400 is to beH959 despisedH959.’ 13You also sayH559, ‘SeeH2009, 39howH4100 40tiresomeH8513 it is!’ And you viewH5301 it asH5301 trivialH5301,” saysH559 the LordH3068 of armiesH6635, “and you bringH935 what was takenH1497 byH1497 41robberyH1497 and what is 42lameH6455 or sickH2470; so you bringH935 the offeringH4503! Should I 43acceptH7521 it from your handH3027?” saysH559 the LordH3068. 14“But cursedH779 be the 44swindlerH5230 who hasH3426 a maleH2145 in his flockH5739 and vowsH5087 it, but sacrificesH2076 a 45blemishedH7843 animal to the LordH136, for I am a greatH1419 46KingH4428,” saysH559 the LordH3068 of armiesH6635, “and My nameH8034 is 4748fearedH3372 among the 49nationsH1471.”