1The burden of the word of Jehovah to Israel by Malachi . 2I have loved you , saith Jehovah . Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob ’s brother? saith Jehovah : yet I loved Jacob ; 3but Esau I hated , and made his mountains a desolation , and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness . 4Whereas Edom saith, We are beaten down , but we will return and build the waste places ; thus saith Jehovah of hosts , They shall build , but I will throw down ; and men shall call them The border of wickedness , and The people against whom Jehovah hath indignation for ever . 5And your eyes shall see , and ye shall say , Jehovah be magnified beyond the border of Israel .
The Defiled Offerings
6A son honoreth his father , and a servant his master: if then I am a father , where is mine honor ? and if I am a master, where is my fear ? saith Jehovah of hosts unto you , O priests , that despise my name . And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name ? 7Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar . And ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of Jehovah is contemptible. 8And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice , it is no evil ! and when ye offer the lame and sick , it is no evil ! Present it now unto thy governor ; will he be pleased with thee ? or will he accept thy person ? saith Jehovah of hosts . 9And now , I pray you , entreat the favor of God , that he may be gracious unto us : this hath been by your means : will he accept any of your persons ? saith Jehovah of hosts . 10Oh that there were one among you that would shut the doors , that ye might not kindle fire on mine altar in vain ! I have no pleasure in you , saith Jehovah of hosts , neither will I accept an offering at your hand . 11For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles ; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name , and a pure offering : for my name shall be great among the Gentiles , saith Jehovah of hosts . 12But ye profane it , in that ye say, The table of Jehovah is polluted , and the fruit thereof, even its food, is contemptible. 13Ye say also , Behold , what a weariness is it ! and ye have snuffed at it , saith Jehovah of hosts ; and ye have brought that which was taken by violence , and the lame , and the sick ; thus ye bring the offering : should I accept this at your hand ? saith Jehovah . 14But cursed be the deceiver , who hath in his flock a male , and voweth , and sacrificeth unto the Lord a blemished thing ; for I am a great King , saith Jehovah of hosts , and my name is terrible among the Gentiles .