1 T he burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

The burden or oracle (the thing to be lifted up) of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

2 I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob,

I have loved you, says the Lord. Yet you say, How and in what way have You loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? says the Lord; yet I loved Jacob (Israel),

3 a nd I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

But I have hated Esau and have laid waste his mountains, and his heritage I have given to the jackals of the wilderness.

4 W hereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever.

Though Edom should say, We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places—thus says the Lord of hosts: They may build, but I will tear and throw down; and men will call them the Wicked Country, the people against whom the Lord has indignation forever.

5 A nd your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The Lord will be magnified from the border of Israel.

Your own eyes shall see this and you shall say, The Lord is great and will be magnified over and beyond the border of Israel!

6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is the fear due Me? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise My name. You say, How and in what way have we despised Your name?

7 Y e offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible.

By offering polluted food upon My altar. And you ask, How have we polluted it and profaned You? By thinking that the table of the Lord is contemptible and may be despised.

8 A nd if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts.

When you offer blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil? Present such a thing now to your governor. Will he be pleased with you? Or will he receive you graciously? says the Lord of hosts.

9 A nd now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the Lord of hosts.

Now then, I beg, entreat God that He will be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will He accept it or show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts.

10 W ho is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

Oh, that there were even one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on My altar to no purpose! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, nor will I accept an offering from your hand.

11 F or from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.

For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name shall be great among the nations, and in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and indeed a pure offering; for My name shall be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.

12 B ut ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.

But you profane it when you say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and the fruit of it, its food, is contemptible and may be despised.

13 Y e said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord.

You say also, Behold, what a drudgery and weariness this is! And you have sniffed at it, says the Lord of hosts. And you have brought that which was taken by violence, or the lame or the sick; this you bring as an offering! Shall I accept this from your hand? says the Lord.

14 B ut cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

But cursed is the deceiver who has a male in his flock and vows to offer it, yet sacrifices to the Lord a blemished or diseased thing! For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and My name is terrible and to be feared among the nations.