Malachi 1

1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

A revelation, the LORD’s word to Israel by Malachi.

2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, In what hast thou loved us? [Was] not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,

“I have loved you,” says the LORD. Yet you say, “How have you loved us?” “Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” says the LORD, “Yet I loved Jacob;

3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons 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 saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.

Whereas Edom says, “We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places,” the LORD of Armies says, “They shall build, but I will throw down; and men will call them ‘The Wicked Land,’ even the people against whom the LORD shows wrath forever.”

5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.

Your eyes will see, and you will say, “The LORD is great—even beyond the border of Israel!”

6 A son honoreth [his] father, and a servant his master: if then I [am] a father, where [is] my honor? and if I [am] a master, where [is] my fear? saith the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, In what have we despised thy name?

“A son honours his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, then where is my honour? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the LORD of Armies to you priests who despise my name. “You say, ‘How have we despised your name?’

7 Ye offer polluted bread upon my altar? and ye say, In what have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD [is] contemptible.

You offer polluted bread on my altar. You say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ In that you say, ‘The LORD’s table is contemptible.’

8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, [is it] not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, [is it] not evil? offer it now to thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD 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 the LORD of Armies.

9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious to us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your person? saith the LORD of hosts.

“Now, please entreat the favour of God, that he may be gracious to us. With this, will he accept any of you?” says the LORD of Armies.

10 Who [is there] even among you that would shut the doors [for nought]? neither do ye kindle [fire] on my altar for naught. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

“Oh that there were one amongst you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Armies, “neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

11 For from the rising of the sun even to the setting of the same, my name [shall be] great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense [shall be] offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name [shall be] great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

For from the rising of the sun even to its going down, my name is great amongst the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great amongst the nations,” says the LORD of Armies.

12 But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD [is] polluted; and the fruit of it, [even] his provision, is contemptible.

“But you profane it when you say, ‘The LORD’s table is polluted, and its fruit, even its food, is contemptible.’

13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness [is it]! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought [that which was] torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this from your hand? saith the LORD.

You say also, ‘Behold, what a weariness it is!’ And you have sniffed at it”, says the LORD of Armies; “and you have brought that which was taken by violence, the lame, and the sick; thus you bring the offering. Should I accept this at your hand?” says the LORD.

14 But cursed [be] the deceiver, who hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth to the LORD a corrupt thing: for I [am] a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name [is] dreadful among the heathen.

“But the deceiver is cursed who has in his flock a male, and vows and sacrifices to the Lord a defective thing; for I am a great King,” says the LORD of Armies, “and my name is awesome amongst the nations.”