Chapter 1
1 A revelation, the LORD ’s word to Israel by Malachi .
2 " I have loved you ," says the LORD . Yet you say, " How have you loved us?" "Wasn’t Esau Jacob ’s brother?" says the LORD , " Yet I loved Jacob ;
3 but Esau I hated , and made his mountains a desolation , and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness ."
4 Whereas Edom says , " We are beaten down , but we will return and build the waste places ," the LORD of Hosts says , " They shall build , but I will throw down ; and men will call them ‘ The Wicked Land ,’ even the people against whom the LORD shows wrath forever ."
5 Your eyes will see , and you will say , " The LORD is great — even beyond the border of Israel !"
6 " A son honours his father , and a servant his master. If I am a father , then where is my honour ? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me ?" says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise my name . " You say, ‘ How have we despised your name ?’
7 You offer polluted bread on my altar . You say, ‘ How have we polluted you ?’ In that you say, ‘ The LORD ’s table is contemptible.’
8 When you offer the blind for sacrifice , isn’t that evil ? And when you offer the lame and sick , isn’t that evil ? Present it now to your governor ! Will he be pleased with you ? Or will he accept your person ?" says the LORD of Hosts .
9 " Now , please entreat the favour of God , " (Elohim). that he may be gracious to us . With this , will he accept any of you ?" says the LORD of Hosts .
10 " Oh that there were one amongst you who would shut the doors , that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain ! I have no pleasure in you ," says the LORD of Hosts , " neither will I accept an offering at your hand .
11 For from the rising of the sun even to its going down , my name is great amongst the nations , and in every place incense will be offered to my name , and a pure offering ; for my name is great amongst the nations ," says the LORD of Hosts .
12 " But you profane it when you say, ‘ The LORD ’s table is polluted , and its fruit , even its food, is contemptible.’
13 You say also , ‘ Behold , ", means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. what a weariness it is !’ And you have sniffed at it ", says the LORD of Hosts ; " and you have brought that which was taken by violence , the lame , and the sick ; thus you bring the offering . Should I accept this at your hand ?" says the LORD .
14 " But the deceiver is cursed who has in his flock a male , and vows and sacrifices to the Lord a defective thing ; for I am a great King ," says the LORD of Hosts , " and my name is awesome amongst the nations ."