Chapter 1
1 God's Love for Jacob
The oracle 4853 of the word 1697 of the LORD 3068 to Israel 3478 through 3027 Malachi 4401.
2 ¶ "I have loved 157 you," says 559 the LORD 3068. But you say 559, "How 4100 have You loved 157 us?" "{Was} not Esau 6215 Jacob's 3290 brother 251?" declares 5002 the LORD 3068. "Yet I have loved 157 Jacob 3290;
3 but I have hated 8130 Esau 6215, and I have made 7760 his mountains 2022 a desolation 8077 and {appointed} his inheritance 5159 for the jackals 8565 of the wilderness 4057."
4 Though 3588 Edom 112 says 559, "We have been beaten 7567 down 7567, but we will return 7725 and build 1129 up the ruins 2723"; thus 3541 says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635, "They may build 1129, but I will tear 2040 down 2040; and {men} will call 7121 them the wicked 7562 territory 1366, and the people 5971 toward whom 834 the LORD 3068 is indignant 2194 forever."
5 Your eyes 5869 will see 7200 this and you will say 559, "The LORD 3068 be magnified 1431 beyond the border 1366 of Israel 3478!"
6 Sin of the Priests
¶ " 'A son 1121 honors 3513 {his} father 1, and a servant 5650 his master 113. Then if 518 I am a father 1, where 346 is My honor 3519? And if 518 I am a master 113, where 346 is My respect 4172?' says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635 to you, O priests 3548 who despise 959 My name 8034. But you say 559, 'How 4100 have we despised 959 Your name 8034?'
7 "{You} are presenting 5066 defiled 1351 food 3899 upon My altar 4196. But you say 559, 'How 4100 have we defiled 1351 You?' In that you say 559, 'The table 7979 of the LORD 3068 is to be despised 959.'
8 "But when 3588 you present 5066 the blind 5787 for sacrifice 2076, is it not evil 7451? And when 3588 you present 5066 the lame 6455 and sick 2470, is it not evil 7451? Why not offer 7126 it to your governor 6346? Would he be pleased 7521 with you? Or 176 would he receive you kindly 6440?" says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635.
9 "But now 6258 will you not entreat 2470 God's 410 favor 6440, that He may be gracious 2603 to us? With such 2088 an offering on your part 3027, will He receive any 4480 of you kindly 6440?" says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635.
10 "Oh 4310 that there were one among you who would shut 5462 the gates 1817, that you might not uselessly 2600 kindle 215 {fire on} My altar 4196! I am not pleased 2656 with you," says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635, "nor 3808 will I accept 7521 an offering 4503 from you.
11 "For from the rising 4217 of the sun 8121 even 5704 to its setting 3996, My name 8034 {will be} great 1419 among the nations 1471, and in every 3605 place 4725 incense 4729 is going to be offered to My name 8034, and a grain offering 4503 {that is} pure 2889; for My name 8034 {will be} great 1419 among the nations 1471," says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635.
12 "But you are profaning 2490 it, in that you say 559, 'The table 7979 of the Lord 136 is defiled 1351, and as for its fruit 5204, its food 400 is to be despised 959.'
13 "You also say 559, 'My, how 4100 tiresome 8513 it is!' And you disdainfully 5301 sniff 5301 at it," says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635, "and you bring 935 what was taken 1497 by robbery 1497 and {what is} lame 6455 or sick 2470; so you bring 935 the offering 4503! Should I receive 7521 that from your hand 3027?" says 559 the LORD 3068.
14 "But cursed 779 be the swindler 5230 who has 3426 a male 2145 in his flock 5739 and vows 5087 it, but sacrifices 2076 a blemished 7843 animal 7843 to the Lord 136, for I am a great 1419 King 4428," says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635, "and My name 8034 is feared 3372 among the nations 1471."
Chapter 2
1 Priests to Be Disciplined
"And now 6258 this 2088 commandment 4687 is for you, O priests 3548.
2 "If 518 you do not listen 8085, and if 518 you do not take 7760 it to heart 3820 to give 5414 honor 3519 to My name 8034," says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635, "then I will send 7971 the curse 3994 upon you and I will curse 779 your blessings 1293; and indeed 1571, I have cursed 779 them {already,} because 3588 you are not taking 7760 {it} to heart 3820.
3 "Behold 2009, I am going to rebuke 1605 your offspring 2233, and I will spread 2219 refuse 6569 on your faces 6440, the refuse 6569 of your feasts 2282; and you will be taken 5375 away with it.
4 "Then you will know 3045 that I have sent 7971 this 2088 commandment 4687 to you, that My covenant 1285 may continue 1961 with Levi 3878," says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635.
5 "My covenant 1285 with him was {one of} life 2425 and peace 7965, and I gave 5414 them to him {as an object of} reverence 4172; so he revered 3372 Me and stood 2865 in awe 2865 of My name 8034.
6 "True 571 instruction 8451 was in his mouth 6310 and unrighteousness 5767 was not found 4672 on his lips 8193; he walked 1980 with Me in peace 7965 and uprightness 4334, and he turned 7725 many 7227 back 7725 from iniquity 5771.
7 "For the lips 8193 of a priest 3548 should preserve 8104 knowledge 1847, and men should seek 1245 instruction 8451 from his mouth 6310; for he is the messenger 4397 of the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635.
8 "But as for you, you have turned 5493 aside 5493 from the way 1870; you have caused many 7227 to stumble 3782 by the instruction 8451; you have corrupted 7843 the covenant 1285 of Levi 3878," says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635.
9 "So I also 1571 have made 5414 you despised 959 and abased 8217 before all 3605 the people 5971, just as you are not keeping 8104 My ways 1870 but are showing 5375 partiality in the instruction 8451.
10 Sin in the Family
¶ "Do we not all 3605 have one 259 father 1? Has not one 259 God 410 created 1254 us? Why 4069 do we deal 898 treacherously 898 each 376 against his brother 251 so as to profane 2490 the covenant 1285 of our fathers 1?
11 "Judah 3063 has dealt 898 treacherously 898, and an abomination 8441 has been committed 6213 in Israel 3478 and in Jerusalem 3389; for Judah 3063 has profaned 2490 the sanctuary 6944 of the LORD 3068 which 834 He loves 157 and has married 1166 the daughter 1323 of a foreign 5236 god 410.
12 "{As} for the man 376 who 834 does 6213 this, may the LORD 3068 cut 3772 off 3772 from the tents 168 of Jacob 3290 {everyone} who awakes 5782 and answers 6030, or who presents 5066 an offering 4503 to the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635.
13 ¶ "This 2088 is another 8145 thing 8145 you do 6213: you cover 3680 the altar 4196 of the LORD 3068 with tears 1832, with weeping 1065 and with groaning 603, because 4480 He no 369 longer 5750 regards 6437 the offering 4503 or accepts 3947 {it with} favor 7522 from your hand 3027.
14 "Yet you say 559, 'For what 4100 reason?' Because the LORD 3068 has been a witness 5749 between 996 you and the wife 802 of your youth 5271, against whom 834 you have dealt 898 treacherously 898, though she is your companion 2278 and your wife 802 by covenant 1285.
15 "But not one 259 has done 6213 {so} who has a remnant 7605 of the Spirit 7307. And what 4100 did {that} one 259 {do} while he was seeking 1245 a godly 430 offspring 2233? Take 8104 heed 8104 then to your spirit 7307, and let no 408 one deal 898 treacherously 898 against the wife 802 of your youth 5271.
16 "For I hate 8130 divorce 7971," says 559 the LORD 3068, the God 430 of Israel 3478, "and him who covers 3680 his garment 3830 with wrong 2555," says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635. "So take 8104 heed 8104 to your spirit 7307, that you do not deal 898 treacherously 898."
17 ¶ You have wearied 3021 the LORD 3068 with your words 1697. Yet you say 559, "How 4100 have we wearied 3021 {Him?}" In that you say 559, "Everyone 3605 who does 6213 evil 7451 is good 2896 in the sight 5869 of the LORD 3068, and He delights 2654 in them," or 176, "Where 346 is the God 430 of justice 4941?"
Chapter 3
1 The Purifier
"Behold 2009, I am going to send 7971 My messenger 4397, and he will clear 6437 the way 1870 before 6440 Me. And the Lord 113, whom 834 you seek 1245, will suddenly 6597 come 935 to His temple 1964; and the messenger 4397 of the covenant 1285, in whom 834 you delight 2655, behold 2009, He is coming 935," says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635.
2 "But who 4310 can endure 3557 the day 3117 of His coming 935? And who 4310 can stand 5975 when He appears 7200? For He is like a refiner's 6884 fire 784 and like fullers' 3526 soap 1287.
3 "He will sit 3427 as a smelter 6884 and purifier 2891 of silver 3701, and He will purify 2891 the sons 1121 of Levi 3878 and refine 2212 them like gold 2091 and silver 3701, so that they may present 5066 to the LORD 3068 offerings 4503 in righteousness 6666.
4 "Then the offering 4503 of Judah 3063 and Jerusalem 3389 will be pleasing 6149 to the LORD 3068 as in the days 3117 of old 5769 and as in former 6931 years 8141.
5 ¶ "Then I will draw 7126 near 7126 to you for judgment 4941; and I will be a swift 4116 witness 5707 against the sorcerers 3784 and against the adulterers 5003 and against those who swear 7650 falsely 8267, and against those who oppress 6231 the wage 7916 earner 7916 in his wages 7939, the widow 490 and the orphan 3490, and those who turn 5186 aside 5186 the alien 1616 and do not fear 3372 Me," says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635.
6 "For I, the LORD 3068, do not change 8132; therefore you, O sons 1121 of Jacob 3290, are not consumed 3615.
7 ¶ "From the days 3117 of your fathers 1 you have turned 5493 aside 5493 from My statutes 2706 and have not kept 8104 {them.} Return 7725 to Me, and I will return 7725 to you," says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635. "But you say 559, 'How 4100 shall we return 7725?'
8 You Have Robbed God
¶ "Will a man 120 rob 6906 God 430? Yet 3588 you are robbing 6906 Me! But you say 559, 'How 4100 have we robbed 6906 You?' In tithes 4643 and offerings 8641.
9 "You are cursed 779 with a curse 3994, for you are robbing 6906 Me, the whole 3605 nation 1471 {of you!}
10 "Bring 935 the whole 3605 tithe 4643 into the storehouse 214, so that there may be food 2964 in My house 1004, and test 974 Me now 4994 in this 2088," says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635, "if 518 I will not open 6605 for you the windows 699 of heaven 8064 and pour 7385 out for you a blessing 1293 until 5704 it overflows.
11 "Then I will rebuke 1605 the devourer 398 for you, so that it will not destroy 7843 the fruits 6529 of the ground 127; nor 3808 will your vine 1612 in the field 7704 cast 7921 {its grapes,}" says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635.
12 "All 3605 the nations 1471 will call 833 you blessed 833, for you shall be a delightful 2656 land 776," says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635.
13 ¶ "Your words 1697 have been 2388 arrogant 2388 against 5921 Me," says 559 the LORD 3068. "Yet you say 559, 'What 4100 have we spoken 1696 against 5921 You?'
14 "You have said 559, 'It is vain 7723 to serve 5647 God 430; and what 4100 profit 1215 is it that we have kept 8104 His charge 4931, and that we have walked 1980 in mourning 6941 before the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635?
15 'So now 6258 we call 833 the arrogant 2086 blessed 833; not only 1571 are the doers 6213 of wickedness 7564 built 1129 up but they also 1571 test 974 God 430 and escape 4422.'"
16 The Book of Remembrance
¶ Then 227 those who feared 3372 the LORD 3068 spoke 1696 to one 376 another 7453, and the LORD 3068 gave 7181 attention 7181 and heard 8085 {it,} and a book 5612 of remembrance 2146 was written 3789 before 6440 Him for those who fear 3372 the LORD 3068 and who esteem 2803 His name 8034.
17 "They will be Mine," says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635, "on the day 3117 that I prepare 6213 {My} own possession 5459, and I will spare 2550 them as a man 376 spares 2550 his own son 1121 who serves 5647 him."
18 So you will again 7725 distinguish 7200 between 996 the righteous 6662 and the wicked 7563, between 996 one who serves 5647 God 430 and one who 834 does not serve 5647 Him.
Chapter 4
1 Final Admonition
"For behold 2009, the day 3117 is coming 935, burning 1197 like a furnace 8574; and all 3605 the arrogant 2086 and every 3605 evildoer will be chaff 7179; and the day 3117 that is coming 935 will set 3857 them ablaze 3857," says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635, "so 834 that it will leave 5800 them neither 3808 root 8328 nor 3808 branch 6057."
2 "But for you who fear 3372 My name 8034, the sun 8121 of righteousness 6666 will rise 2224 with healing 4832 in its wings 3671; and you will go 3318 forth 3318 and skip 6335 about 6335 like calves 5695 from the stall 4770.
3 "You will tread 6072 down 6072 the wicked 7563, for they will be ashes 665 under 8478 the soles 3709 of your feet 7272 on the day 3117 which 834 I am preparing 6213," says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635.
4 ¶ "Remember 2142 the law 8451 of Moses 4872 My servant 5650, {even the} statutes 2706 and ordinances 4941 which 834 I commanded 6680 him in Horeb 2722 for all 3605 Israel 3478.
5 ¶ "Behold 2009, I am going to send 7971 you Elijah 452 the prophet 5030 before 6440 the coming 935 of the great 1419 and terrible 3372 day 3117 of the LORD 3068.
6 "He will restore 7725 the hearts 3820 of the fathers 1 to {their} children 1121 and the hearts 3820 of the children 1121 to their fathers 1, so 6435 that I will not come 935 and smite 5221 the land 776 with a curse 2764."