The LORD’S Love for Israel
Malachi 1
1 A pronouncement: a
The word of the LORD b to Israel through c Malachi. A
2 “I have loved you,” d says the LORD.
Yet you ask, “How have you loved us? ”
“Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother? ” e This is the LORD’S declaration. “Even so, I loved Jacob, 3 but I hated Esau. f I turned his mountains into a wasteland, and gave his inheritance to the desert jackals.” g
4 Though Edom says: “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild B the ruins,” the LORD of Armies says this: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called a wicked country h and the people the LORD has cursed C forever. i 5 Your own eyes will see this, and you yourselves will say, ‘The LORD is great, even beyond D the borders of Israel.’ j
Disobedience of the Priests
6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of me? k says the LORD of Armies to you priests, who despise my name.”
Yet you ask: “How have we despised your name? ”
7 “By presenting defiled food on my altar.”
“How have we defiled you? ” you ask. l
When you say: “The LORD’S table is contemptible.” m
8 “When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong? n Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor? ” asks the LORD of Armies. 9 “And now plead for God’s favor. Will he be gracious to us? o Since this has come from your hands, will he show any of you favor? ” p asks the LORD of Armies. 10 “I wish one of you would shut the temple doors, q so that you would no longer kindle a useless fire on my altar! r I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Armies, “and I will accept s no offering from your hands. t
11 “My name will be great among the nations, u from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense E and pure offerings will be presented in my name in every place because my name will be great among the nations,” F says the LORD of Armies.
12 “But you are profaning it v when you say: ‘The Lord’s table is defiled, and its product, its food, is contemptible.’ 13 You also say: ‘Look, what a nuisance! ’ And you scorn G it,” H,w says the LORD of Armies. “You bring stolen, I,x lame, or sick animals. You bring this as an offering! Am I to accept that from your hands? ” asks the LORD.
14 “The deceiver is cursed who has an acceptable male in his flock and makes a vow but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. y For I am a great King,” says the LORD of Armies, “and my name will be feared among the nations.