Malachi 1

The LORD's Love for Israel

1The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

2“I have loved you,” says the LORD.
But you say,
“How have you loved us?”
“Was not Esau Jacob's brother?” declares the LORD.
“Yet I loved Jacob, 3but Esau I hated.
I laid waste his hill country
and gave his inheritance
to the jackals of the wilderness.” 4If Edom says,
“We are shattered,
but we will rebuild the ruins,”
the LORD of Hosts says:
“They may build,
but I will tear down,
and they will be called
‘The Wicked Land’
and
‘The People Against Whom the LORD Is Indignant Forever.’ 5Your eyes will see this,
and you will say,
‘Great is the LORD
beyond the borders of Israel.’”

Polluted Offerings on the Altar

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 the LORD of Hosts to you,
O priests who despise my name.
But you say,
‘How have we despised your name?’

7“By offering polluted food upon my altar.
But you say,
‘How have we polluted you?’
By saying that the table of the LORD may be despised. 8When you offer blind animals in sacrifice,
is that not evil?
And when you offer those that are lame or sick,
is that not evil?
Present that to your governor.
Will he accept you
or show you favor?”
says the LORD of Hosts.

9“And now entreat the favor of God,
that he may be gracious to us.
With such a gift from your hand,
will he show favor to any of you?”
says the LORD of Hosts. 10“Oh that there were one among you
who would shut the doors,
so that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain.
I have no pleasure in you,”
says the LORD 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.
In every place
incense is offered to my name,
and a pure offering.
For my name is great among the nations,”
says the LORD of Hosts. 12“But you profane it when you say,
‘The table of the LORD is polluted,
and its fruit, that is, its food, may be despised.’ 13You also say,
‘What a weariness this is,’
and you snort at it,”
says the LORD of Hosts.
“You bring what has been taken by violence,
or is lame,
or sick,
and this you bring as your offering.
Will I accept that from your hand?”
says the LORD.

14“Cursed be the deceiver
who has a male in his flock
and vows it,
yet sacrifices to the Lord
what is blemished.
For I am a great King,”
says the LORD of Hosts,
“and my name is feared among the nations.”