1 T he burden of a word of Jehovah unto Israel by the hand of Malachi:

2 I have loved you, said Jehovah, And ye have said, `In what hast Thou loved us?'

3 I s not Esau Jacob's brother? -- an affirmation of Jehovah, And I love Jacob, and Esau I have hated, And I make his mountains a desolation, And his inheritance for dragons of a wilderness.

4 B ecause Edom saith, `We have been made poor, And we turn back and we build the wastes,' Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: They do build, and I do destroy, And have called to them, `O region of wickedness,' `O people whom Jehovah defied to the age.'

5 A nd your eyes do see, and ye say, `Magnified is Jehovah beyond the border of Israel,

6 A son honoureth a father, and a servant his master. And if I a father, where Mine honour? And if I a master, where My fear? Said Jehovah of Hosts to you, O priests, despising My name! And ye have said: `In what have we despised Thy name?'

7 Y e are bringing nigh on Mine altar polluted bread, And ye have said: `In what have we polluted Thee?' In your saying: `The table of Jehovah -- it despicable,'

8 A nd when ye bring nigh the blind for sacrifice, `There is no evil,' And when ye bring nigh the lame and sick, `There is no evil;' Bring it near, I pray thee, to thy governor -- Doth he accept thee? or doth he lift up thy face? Said Jehovah of Hosts.

9 A nd now, appease, I pray thee, the face of God, And He doth favour us; From your own hand hath this been, Doth He accept of you appearances? Said Jehovah of Hosts.

10 W ho even among you, And he shutteth the two-leaved doors? Yea, ye do not kindle Mine altar for nought, I have no pleasure in you, said Jehovah of Hosts, And a present I do not accept of your hand.

11 F or, from the rising of the sun to its going in, Great My name among nations, And in every place perfume is brought nigh to My name, and a pure present, For great My name among nations, Said Jehovah of Hosts.

12 A nd ye are polluting it in your saying, `The table of Jehovah -- it is polluted, As to its fruit -- despicable is its food.'

13 A nd ye have said, `Lo, what a weariness,' And ye have puffed at it, said Jehovah of Hosts, And ye have brought in plunder, And the lame and the sick, And ye have brought in the present! Do I accept it from your hand? said Jehovah.

14 A nd cursed a deceiver, who hath in his drove a male, And is vowing, and is sacrificing a marred thing to the Lord, For a great king I, said Jehovah of Hosts, And My name revered among nations!