The Book of the Prophet Malachi 1 The ingratitude of the people; the formalism of the priests

 The Book of the Prophet Malachi 1

The ingratitude of the people; the formalism of the priests

1 The burden of the word of the Lord against 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 have loved Jacob.

3 But I hated Esau and made his mountains a desolation and left his inheritance to the desert dragons.

4 Though Edom says, ‘We are poor, but we will rebuild the desolate places,’ thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘They may build, but I will destroy; and they shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, and the people against whom the Lord is angry forever.’

5 And your eyes shall see, and you shall say, ‘The Lord be magnified from the borders of Israel!’

6 A son shall honor his father, and a servant his master; And if I am the Father, where is my honor? And if I am the Lord, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name and say, “In what way have we despised your name?”

7 You offer defiled bread on my altar, and you say, “In what way have we defiled you?” By saying, “The table of the Lord is contemptible.”

8 For when you bring a blind animal to sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer a lame or diseased animal, is that not wrong? Try presenting it to your ruler! Will he be pleased with you? Or will he accept your person? says the Lord of hosts.

9 Now therefore, plead with God for mercy, and he will have pity on us; for this has come from your hand; will he accept your person? says the Lord of hosts.

10 Who among you will shut the doors and not kindle fire on my altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, nor will I accept an offering from your hand.

11 But from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations; and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.

12 But you profane it when you say, “The table of the Lord is defiled, and its fruit, its food, is contemptible.”

13 And you say, “What a weariness!” And you have despised it, says the Lord of hosts. “You offer what has been stolen, and the lame and the sick. This is how you offer this: will I accept it from your hand?” says the Lord.

14 Cursed be the deceiver who, having a beast in his flock, vows and offers to the Lord a vile thing; for I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.