1An oracle. The word of Yahweh to Israel by the hand of Malachi.
2“I have loved you,” says Yahweh. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares Yahweh. “Yet I loved Jacob,
3but Esau I hated. I made his mountains a desolation and gave his inheritance to the jackals of the wilderness.”
4Though Edom says, “We are beaten down, but we will return and rebuild the ruins,” thus says Yahweh of hosts: “They may build, but I will tear down; and they will be called ‘the territory of wickedness,’ and ‘the people with whom Yahweh is indignant forever.’
5Your own eyes will see it, and you yourselves will say, “Yahweh is great beyond the territory of Israel!”
6“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says Yahweh of hosts to you, O priests who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’
7You are bringing defiled food to my altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled you?’ By your saying, ‘The table of Yahweh is contemptible.’
8And when you offer a blind animal for sacrifice, is that no evil? And when you offer a lame or sick one, is that no evil? Present it, please, to your governor! Will he be pleased with you, or show you favor? says Yahweh of hosts.
9And now, entreat the face of God that he may be gracious to us. From your hand this has come — will he show any of you favor? says Yahweh of hosts.
10Oh, that even one of you would shut the doors, so that you would not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no delight in you, says Yahweh of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.
11For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says Yahweh of hosts.
12But you profane it when you say, “The table of the Lord is defiled, and its fruit, its food, is contemptible.”
13And you say, “What a weariness!” and you sniff at it, says Yahweh of hosts. And you bring what is stolen, the lame, and the sick — you bring the offering! Should I accept it from your hand? says Yahweh.
14Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock and vows it, yet sacrifices to the Lord a blemished animal. For I am a great King, says Yahweh of hosts, and my name is feared among the nations.
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