Malachi 1

1 The oracle of the word of Yahweh, unto Israel, —by the hand of Malachi.

An oracle: the word of YHWH to Israel by Malachi.

2 I have loved you, saith Yahweh, and yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Is not Esau, brother, to Jacob? enquireth Yahweh, Yet have I loved Jacob,

"I have loved you," says YHWH. Yet you say, "How have you loved us?" "Wasn't Esau Jacob's brother?" says YHWH, "Yet I loved Jacob;

3 And, Esau, have I hated, — and made his mountains a desolation, and his inheritance [a dwelling] for the jackals of the wilderness.

but Esau I hated, and made his mountains a desolation, and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness."

4 Whereas Edom, may say, We are laid waste, but we will again build the desolate places, Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, They, may build, but, I, will pull down, — and men shall call them, The Boundary of Lawlessness, and, The people with whom Yahweh hath indignation unto times age-abiding;

Whereas Edom says, "We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places;" thus says YHWH of hosts, "They shall build, but I will throw down; and men will call them 'The Wicked Land,' even the people against whom YHWH shows wrath forever."

5 And, your own eyes, shall see, —and, ye yourselves, shall say, Yahweh, be magnified, beyond the boundary of Israel.

Your eyes will see, and you will say, "YHWH is great—even beyond the border of Israel."

6 A son, will honour a father, and, a servant, his lord, — If then, a father, I am, where is mine honour? And, if, a lord, I am, where is my reverence? saith Yahweh of hosts— to you, ye priests, who despise my Name, and yet say, Wherein have we despised thy Name?

"A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, then where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? says YHWH of hosts to you, cohanim, who despise my name. You say, 'How have we despised your name?'

7 In bringing near upon mine altar, polluted food, while yet ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? Because ye say, As for the table of Yahweh, a thing to be despised, it is;

You offer defiled bread on my altar. You say, 'How have we defiled you?' In that you say, 'YHWH's table is despised, and its fruit, its food, is despised.'

8 And when ye bring near the blind as a sacrifice, [saying] —No harm! or when ye bring near the lame or the sick [saying] —No harm! Offer it, I pray you, unto thy pasha, Will he accept thee? or lift up thy countenance? saith Yahweh of hosts.

When you offer the blind for sacrifice, isn't that evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, isn't that evil? Present it now to your governor. Will he be pleased with you? Or will he accept your person?" says YHWH of hosts.

9 Now, therefore, pacify, I pray you, the face of GOD, that he may grant us favour, —at your hands, hath this come to pass, Will he lift up the countenances, of any of you? saith Yahweh of hosts.

"Now, please entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With this, will he accept any of you?" says YHWH of hosts.

10 Who is there, even among you, that will shut the doors, so as not to set light to mine altar, for nothing? I can take no pleasure in you, saith Yahweh of hosts, and, your present, can I not accept at your hand.

"Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain. I have no pleasure in you," says YHWH of hosts, "neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

11 For, from the rising of the sun, even unto the going in thereof, great is my Name among the nations, and, in every place, incense, is offered to my Name, and a pure present, —for great is my Name among the nations, saith Yahweh of hosts.

For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name is great among the nations," says YHWH of hosts.

12 But ye are profaning me, — in that ye say, As for the table of the Lord, polluted it is, and, as for his produce, contemptible is his food.

"But you profane it, in that you say, 'YHWH's table is defiled, and its fruit, its food, is despised.'

13 And ye have said, Lo! what a weariness! And ye have snuffed at Me, saith Yahweh of hosts, and have brought in the torn and the lame and the sick, thus have ye brought the present, — Could I accept it at your hand? saith Yahweh.

You say also, 'Look, what a weariness it is.' and you sniff scornfully at it," says YHWH of hosts; "and you have brought that which was taken by violence, the lame, and the sick; thus you bring the offering. Should I accept this from your hand?" says YHWH of hosts.

14 But accursed is he that defraudeth, who, when there is in his flock a male, yet voweth and sacrificeth a corrupt thing to the Lord, for, a great king, am I, saith Yahweh of hosts, and, my Name, is revered among the nations.

"But the deceiver is cursed, who has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to YHWH a blemished thing; for I am a great King," says YHWH of hosts, "and my name is awesome among the nations."