Dual Panel1What follows is divine revelation <04853>. The word <01697> of the Lord <03068> came to <0413> Israel <03478> through <03027> Malachi <04401>:
2“I have shown love <0157> to you,” says <0559> the Lord <03068>, but you say <0559>, “How <04100> have you shown love <0157> to us?” “Esau <06215> was Jacob’s <03290> brother <0251>,” the Lord <03068> explains <05002>, “yet I chose <0157> Jacob <03290>
3and rejected <08130> Esau <06215>. I turned <07760> Esau’s mountains <02022> into a deserted <08077> wasteland <04057> and gave his territory <05159> to the wild jackals <08568>.”
4Edom <0123> says <0559>, “Though we are devastated <07567>, we will once again <07725> build <01129> the ruined places <02723>.” So the Lord <03068> who rules over all <06635> responds <0559>, “They <01992> indeed may build <01129>, but I <0589> will overthrow <02040>. They will be known as <07121> the land <01366> of evil <07564>, the people <05971> with whom <0834> the Lord <03068> is permanently <05769> displeased <02194>.
5Your eyes <05869> will see <07200> it, and then you <0859> will say <0559>, ‘May the Lord <03068> be magnified <01431> even beyond <05921> the border <01366> of Israel <03478>!’”
6“A son <01121> naturally honors <03513> his father <01> and a slave <05650> respects his master <0113>. If <0518> I <0589> am your father <01>, where <0346> is my honor <03519>? If <0518> I <0589> am your master <0113>, where <0346> is my respect <04172>? The Lord <03068> who rules over all <06635> asks <0559> you this, you priests <03548> who make light <0959> of my name <08034>! But you reply <0559>, ‘How <04100> have we made light <0959> of your name <08034>?’
7You are offering <05066> improper <01351> sacrifices <03899> on <05921> my altar <04196>, yet you ask <0559>, ‘How <04100> have we offended <01351> you?’ By treating <0559> the table <07979> of the Lord <03068> as if it is <01931> of no importance <0959>!
8For <03588> when you offer <05066> blind <05787> animals as a sacrifice <02076>, is that not <0369> wrong <07451>? And when <03588> you offer <05066> the lame <06455> and sick <02470>, is that not <0369> wrong <07451> as well? Indeed, try offering <07126> them to your governor <06346>! Will he be pleased <07521> with you or <0176> show <05375> you favor <06440>?” asks <0559> the Lord <03069> who rules over all <06635>.
9But now <06258> plead <02470> for God’s <0410> favor <06440> that he might be gracious <02603> to us. “With this <02063> kind of offering in your hands <03027>, how can he be <01961> pleased <06440> <05375> with <04480> you?” asks <0559> the Lord <03068> who rules over all <06635>.
10“I wish that one of you would close <05462> the temple doors <01817>, so that you no <03808> longer would light <0215> useless <02600> fires on my altar <04196>. I am not <0369> pleased <02656> with you,” says <0559> the Lord <03068> who rules over all <06635>, “and I will no <03808> longer accept <07521> an offering <04503> from you.
11For <03588> from the east <04217> to <05704> the west <08121> my name <08034> will be great <01419> among the nations <01471>. Incense <06999> and pure <02889> offerings <04503> will be offered <05066> in my name <08034> everywhere, for <03588> my name <08034> will be great <01419> among the nations <01471>,” says <0559> the Lord <03068> who rules over all <06635>.
12“But you <0859> are profaning <02490> it by saying <0559> that the table <07979> of the Lord <0136> is common <01351> and its <01931> offerings <0400> <05108> despicable <0959>.
13You also say <0559>, ‘How tiresome <04972> it is.’ You turn up your nose <05301> at it,” says <0559> the Lord <03068> who rules over all <06635>, “and instead bring <0935> what is stolen <01497>, lame <06455>, or sick <02470>. You bring <0935> these things for an offering <04503>! Should I accept <07521> this from you <03027>?” asks <0559> the Lord <03068>.
14“There will be harsh condemnation <0779> for the hypocrite <05230> who has a valuable male <02145> animal in his flock <05739> but vows <05087> and sacrifices <02076> something inferior to the Lord <0136>. For <03588> I <0589> am a great <01419> king <04428>,” says <0559> the Lord <03068> who rules over all <06635>, “and my name <08034> is awesome <03372> among the nations <01471>.”