1Behold , I send my messenger , and he shall prepare the way before me : and the Lord , whom ye seek , will suddenly come to his temple ; and the messenger of the covenant , whom ye desire , behold , he cometh , saith Jehovah of hosts . 2But who can abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth ? for he is like a refiner ’s fire, and like fullers’ soap : 3and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver , and he will purify the sons of Levi , and refine them as gold and silver ; and they shall offer unto Jehovah offerings in righteousness . 4Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto Jehovah , as in the days of old , and as in ancient years .
Judgment Against Unfaithfulness
5And I will come near to you to judgment ; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers , and against the adulterers , and against the false swearers , and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages , the widow, and the fatherless , and that turn aside the sojourner from his right , and fear not me , saith Jehovah of hosts . 6For I , Jehovah , change not ; therefore ye , O sons of Jacob , are not consumed . 7From the days of your fathers ye have turned aside from mine ordinances , and have not kept them . Return unto me , and I will return unto you , saith Jehovah of hosts . But ye say , Wherein shall we return ? 8Will a man rob God? yet ye rob me . But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings . 9Ye are cursed with the curse ; for ye rob me , even this whole nation . 10Bring ye the whole tithe into the store-house, that there may be food in my house , and prove me now herewith , saith Jehovah of hosts , if I will not open you the windows of heaven , and pour you out a blessing , that there shall not be room enough to receive it .
The Blessings of Obedience
11And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground ; neither shall your vine cast its fruit before the time in the field , saith Jehovah of hosts . 12And all nations shall call you happy; for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith Jehovah of hosts .
The Distinction Between the Righteous and the Wicked
13Your words have been stout against me , saith Jehovah . Yet ye say , What have we spoken against thee ? 14Ye have said, It is vain to serve God ; and what profit is it that we have kept his charge , and that we have walked mournfully before Jehovah of hosts ? 15and now we call the proud happy; yea , they that work wickedness are built up ; yea , they tempt God, and escape . 16Then they that feared Jehovah spake one with another ; and Jehovah hearkened , and heard , and a book of remembrance was written before him , for them that feared Jehovah , and that thought upon his name . 17And they shall be mine, saith Jehovah of hosts , even mine own possession , in the day that I make ; and I will spare them , as a man spareth his own son that serveth him . 18Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked , between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not .