Malachi

A pronouncement: The word of GOD to Israel through Malachi.

I have shown you love, said GOD. But you ask, “How have You shown us love?” After all—declares GOD—Esau is Jacob’s brother; yet I have accepted Jacob

and have rejected Esau. I have made his hills a desolation, his territory a home for beastsaa home for beasts Meaning of Heb. uncertain. of the desert.

If Edom thinks, “Though crushed, we can build the ruins again,” thus said GOD of Hosts: They may build, but I will tear down. And so they shall be known as the region of wickedness, the people damned forever of GOD.

Your eyes shall behold it, and you shall declare, “Great is GOD beyond the borders of Israel!”

A son should honor his father, and a slavebslave Septuagint and Targum add “should reverence”; cf. next part of verse. his master. Now if I were a father, where would be the honor due Me? And if I were a master, where would be the reverence due Me?—said GOD of Hosts to you, O priests who scorn My name. But you ask, “How have we scorned Your name?”

You offer defiled food on My altar. But you ask, “How have we defiled You?”cYou Septuagint “it.” By saying, “GOD’s table can be treated with scorn.”

When you present a blind animal for sacrifice—it doesn’t matter! When you present a lame or sick one—it doesn’t matter! Just offer it to your governor: Will he accept you? Will he show you favor?—said GOD of Hosts.

And now implore the favor of God! Will compassion be shown to us? This is what you have done—will any of you be accepted? GOD of Hosts has said:

If only you would lock My doors, and not kindle fire on My altar to no purpose! I take no pleasure in you—said GOD of Hosts—and I will accept no offering from you.

For from where the sun rises to where it sets, My name is honored among the nations, and everywhere incense and pure oblation are offered to My name; for My name is honored among the nations—said GOD of Hosts.

But you profane it when you say, “The table of the Sovereign is defiled and the meat,dmeat Meaning of Heb. uncertain. the food, can be treated with scorn.”

You say, “Oh, what a bother!” And so you degradeedegrade Meaning of Heb. uncertain. it—said GOD of Hosts—and you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; and you offer such as an oblation. Will I accept it from you?—said GOD.

A curse on the cheat who has an [unblemished] male in the flock, but vows and sacrifices a blemished animal to the Sovereign! For I am an emperor—said GOD of Hosts—and My name is revered among the nations.