Chapter 3
1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord-Adon [Ruler of the Earth] , whom you 2f seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you 2f delight in: behold, he shall come, says the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) Tz’va’ot [of the Heavenly Armies] .
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appears? for he [is] like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
3 And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi (Levite) [Adhesion, Joiner] , and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) an offering in righteousness.
4 Then shall the offering of Y’hudah [Let Him (God) Be Praised] and Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace] be pleasant unto the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) , as in the days of old, and as in former years.
5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the employee (hired laborer) in [his] wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger [from his right] , and fear not me, says the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) Tz’va’ot [of the Heavenly Armies] .
6 For I [am] the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) , I change not; therefore you 2f sons of Ya’akov [Heal of God] are not consumed.
7 Even from the days of your fathers you 2f are gone away from my ordinances, and have not kept [them] . Return unto me, and I will return unto you, says the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) Tz’va’ot [of the Heavenly Armies] . But you 2f said, Wherein shall we return?
8 Will a man rob God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] ? Yet you 2f have robbed me. But you 2f say, Wherein have we robbed you i ? In tithes and offerings.
9 You 2f [are] cursed with a curse: for you 2f have robbed me, [even] this whole nation.
10 Bring you 2f all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now with this, says the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) Tz’va’ot [of the Heavenly Armies] , if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it] .
11 And I will rebuke (reprimand; strongly warn; restrain) the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, says the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) Tz’va’ot [of the Heavenly Armies] .
12 And all nations shall call you Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) : for you 2f shall be a delightsome land, says the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) Tz’va’ot [of the Heavenly Armies] .
13 Your words have been stout against me, says the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) . Yet you 2f say, What have we spoken [so much] against you i ?
14 You 2f have said, It [is] vain to serve God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] : and what profit [is it] that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) Tz’va’ot [of the Heavenly Armies] ?
15 And now we call the proud happy; yes, they that work wickedness are set up; yes, [they that] tempt God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] are even delivered.
16 Then they that feared the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) spoke often one to another: and the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) listened, and heard [it] , and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) , and that thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be my, says the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) Tz’va’ot [of the Heavenly Armies] , in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him.
18 Then shall you 2f return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] and him that serves him not.