Malachi 1
Open in the reader1This is the burden of the word of He-Who-Is to Strives-with-God through My-Messenger:
2“I have loved you,” says He-Who-Is. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Hairy Heel-Grabber’s brother?” declares He-Who-Is. “Yet Heel-Grabber I have loved,
3but Hairy I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”
4Though Red may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what He-Who-Is of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom He-Who-Is is indignant forever.
5You will see this with your own eyes, and you yourselves will say, ‘He-Who-Is is great—even beyond the borders of Strives-with-God.’”
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?” says He-Who-Is of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’
7By presenting defiled food on My altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled You ?’ By saying that the table of He-Who-Is is contemptible.
8When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks He-Who-Is of Hosts.
9“But ask now for God’s favor. Will He be gracious? Since this has come from your hands, will He show you favor?” asks He-Who-Is of Hosts.
10“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says He-Who-Is of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.
11For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says He-Who-Is of Hosts.
12“But you profane it when you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is contemptible.’
13You also say: ‘Oh, what a nuisance!’ And you turn up your nose at it,” says He-Who-Is of Hosts. “You bring offerings that are stolen, lame, or sick! Should I accept these from your hands?” asks He-Who-Is.
14“But cursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says He-Who-Is of Hosts, “and My name is to be feared among the nations.