1Behold, I will send my messenger , and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord , whom ye seek , shall suddenly come to his temple , even the messenger of the covenant , whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come , saith the LORD of hosts . 2But who may 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 shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver : and he shall purify the sons of Levi , and purge them as gold and silver , that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness . 4Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD , as in the days of old , and as in former 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 false swearers , and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages , the widow , and the fatherless , and that turn aside the stranger from his right , and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts . 6For I am the LORD , I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed . 7Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances , and have not kept them . Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts . But ye said , Wherein shall we return ? 8Will a man rob God ? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say , Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings . 9Ye are cursed with a curse : for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation . 10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse , that there may be meat in mine house , and prove me now herewith , saith the LORD 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 her fruit before the time in the field , saith the LORD of hosts . 12And all nations shall call you blessed : for ye shall be a delightsome land , saith the LORD of hosts .
The Distinction Between the Righteous and the Wicked
13Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD . Yet ye say , What have we spoken so much against thee? 14Ye have said , It is vain to serve God : and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance , and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts ? 15And now we call the proud happy ; yea, they that work wickedness are set up ; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered . 16Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another : and the LORD hearkened , and heard it , and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD , and that thought upon his name . 17And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts , in that day when I make up my jewels ; 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.