13 Here is another thing you do: You cover the Lord’s altar with tears. You moan and groan because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them from you. 

14 But you ask, “Why ⸤aren’t our offerings accepted⸥?” It is because the Lord is a witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been unfaithful. Yet, she is your companion, the wife of your marriage vows. 15 Didn’t ⸤God⸥ make you one? Your flesh and spirit belong to him. And what does the same ⸤God⸥ look for but godly descendants? So be careful not to be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. 

16 “I hate divorce,” says the Lord God of Israel. “I hate the person who covers himself with violence,” says the Lord of Armies. “Be careful not to be unfaithful.” 

17 You have tried the patience of the Lord with your words. 

But you ask, “How have we tried his patience?” 

When you say, “Everyone who does evil is considered good by the Lord. He is pleased with them,” or “Where is the God of justice?” 

3RD CHAPTER

The Coming of the Messenger of the Promise

1 “I’m going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way ahead of me. Then the Lord you are looking for will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the promisea will come. He is the one you want,” says the Lord of Armies. 

2 But who will be able to endure the day he comes? Who will be able to survive on the day he appears? He is like a purifying fire and like a cleansing soap. 3 He will act like a refiner and a purifier of silver. He will purify Levi’s sons and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will bring acceptable offerings to the Lord. 4 The offerings from Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the past, as in years long ago. 

5 “I will come to judge you. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers, lying witnesses, and those who cheat workers out of their wages and oppress widows and orphans. I will also testify against those who deprive foreigners of their rights. None of them fear me,” says the Lord of Armies.