Malachi 1

1 The burden of the word of the LORD 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,

3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons 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.

5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from 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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.