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

This is the Word of the Lord spoken to Israel through Malachi. God’s Love for Israel

2 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),

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” says the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob,

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

but I have hated Esau. I have laid waste his mountains and have given his riches to the wild dogs of the desert.”

4 T hough 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.

Edom may say, “We have been destroyed, but we will return and build our cities again.” But the Lord of All says, “They may build, but I will tear down. They will be called the sinful land, the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.”

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

You will see this with your own eyes and say, “The Lord is great even outside the land of Israel!” Unclean Gifts Given on the Altar

6 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?

“A son honors his father. A servant honors his owner. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? If I am a boss, where is My respect? says the Lord of All to you, O religious leaders who hate My name. But you say, ‘How have we hated Your name?’

7 B y 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.

You are bringing unclean food to My altar. But you say, ‘How have we made Your altar unclean?’ “Because you say the Lord’s table is to be hated.

8 W hen 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.

When you bring a blind animal to the altar as My gift, is it not sinful? When you bring one that cannot walk, or one that is sick, is it not sinful? Why not bring it to your ruler? Would he be pleased with you? Would he receive it?” says the Lord of All.

9 N ow 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.

“Now pray for God’s favor, that He may be kind to us. With such gifts from your hands, will He receive any of you in kindness?” says the Lord of All.

10 O h, 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.

“If only there were one among you who would shut the gates and stop you from burning a fire on My altar for nothing! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of All. “And I will not receive a gift in worship from you.

11 F or 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.

From sunrise to sunset My name will be great among the nations. Special perfume will be given to My name everywhere, and a grain gift that is pure. For My name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord of All.

12 B ut 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.

“But you are making it unclean when you say that the table of the Lord is unclean, and that its food is to be hated.

13 Y ou 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.

You say, ‘How tired it makes us!’ And you turn your nose away from it,” says the Lord of All. “You bring what was stolen, and what cannot walk, and what is sick. You bring this as your gift! Should I receive that from your hands?” says the Lord.

14 B ut 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.

“A curse will come upon the sinful man who promises to give a male from his flock, but gives an animal that is not perfect to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the Lord of All. “And My name is feared among the nations.