Malaquias 1

1 The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

Israel Beloved of God

2 "I*Deut. 4:37; 7:8; 23:5; Is. 41:8, 9; (Jer. 31:3); John 15:12 have loved you," says the Lord.

"Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’

Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?"

Says the Lord.

"Yet *Rom. 9:13Jacob I have loved;

3 But Esau I have hated,

And *Jer. 49:18; Ezek. 35:9, 15laid waste his mountains and his heritage

For the jackals of the wilderness."

4 Even though Edom has said,

"We have been impoverished,

But we will return and build the desolate places,"

Thus says the Lord of hosts:

"They may build, but I will *Jer. 49:16–18throw down;

They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness,

And the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever.

5 Your eyes shall see,

And you shall say,

*Ps. 35:27; Mic. 5:4‘The Lord is magnified beyond the border of Israel.’

Polluted Offerings

6 "A son *(Ex. 20:12); Prov. 30:11, 17; (Matt. 15:4–8; Eph. 6:2, 3)honors his father,

And a servant his master.

*(Is. 63:16; 64:8); Jer. 31:9; Luke 6:46If then I am the Father,

Where is My honor?

And if I am a Master,

Where is My reverence?

Says the Lord of hosts

To you priests who despise My name.

*Mal. 2:14Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’

7 "You offer *Deut. 15:21defiled food on My altar,

But say,

‘In what way have we defiled You?’

By saying,

*Ezek. 41:22‘The table of the Lord is contemptible.’

8 And *Lev. 22:22; Deut. 15:19–23when you offer the blind as a sacrifice,

Isit not evil?

And when you offer the lame and sick,

Isit not evil?

Offer it then to your governor!

Would he be pleased with you?

Would he *(Job 42:8)accept you favorably?"

Says the Lord of hosts.

9 "But now entreat God’s favor,

That He may be gracious to us.

*Hos. 13:9While this is being done by your hands,

Will He accept you favorably?"

Says the Lord of hosts.

10 "Who isthere even among you who would shut the doors,

*1 Cor. 9:13So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain?

I have no pleasure in you,"

Says the Lord of hosts,

*Is. 1:11"Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.

11 For *Is. 59:19from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,

My name shallbe great *Is. 60:3, 5among the Gentiles;

*1 Tim. 2:8In every place *Rev. 8:3incense shallbe offered to My name,

And a pure offering;

*Is. 66:18, 19For My name shall be great among the nations,"

Says the Lord of hosts.

12 "But you profane it,

In that you say,

*Mal. 1:7‘The table of the Lord is defiled;

And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.’

13 You also say,

‘Oh, what a *Is. 43:22weariness!’

And you sneer at it,"

Says the Lord of hosts.

"And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick;

Thus you bring an offering!

*Lev. 22:20Should I accept this from your hand?"

Says the Lord.

14 "But cursed be*Mal. 1:8the deceiver

Who has in his flock a male,

And takes a vow,

But sacrifices to the Lord *Lev. 22:18–20what is blemished—

For *Ps. 47:2I am a great King,"

Says the Lord of hosts,

"And My name istobe feared among the nations.