Malachi 1:6–2:9
6 “A son fhonors his father,
And a servant his master.
gIf then I am the Father,
Where is My honor?
And if I am a Master,
Where is My reverence?
Says the Lord of hosts
To you priests who despise My name.
hYet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’
7 “You offer idefiled food on My altar,
But say,
‘In what way have we defiled You?’
By saying,
j‘The table of the Lord is 3contemptible.’
8 And kwhen you offer the blind as a sacrifice,
Is it not evil?
And when you offer the lame and sick,
Is it not evil?
Offer it then to your governor!
Would he be pleased with you?
Would he laccept 4you favorably?”
Says the Lord of hosts.
9 “But now entreat God’s favor,
That He may be gracious to us.
mWhile this is being done by your hands,
Will He accept you favorably?”
Says the Lord of hosts.
10 “Who is there even among you who would shut the doors,
nSo that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain?
I have no pleasure in you,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
o“Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.
11 For pfrom the rising of the sun, even to its going down,
My name shall be great qamong the Gentiles;
rIn every place sincense shall be offered to My name,
And a pure offering;
tFor My name shall be great among the nations,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
In that you say,
u‘The table of the 5Lord is defiled;
And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.’
‘Oh, what a vweariness!’
And you sneer at it,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick;
Thus you bring an offering!
wShould I accept this from your hand?”
Says the Lord.
14 “But cursed be xthe deceiver
Who has in his flock a male,
And takes a vow,
But sacrifices to the Lord ywhat is blemished—
For zI am a great King,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“And My name is to be feared among the nations.
2 “And now, O apriests, this commandment is for you.
2 bIf you will not hear,
And if you will not take it to heart,
To give glory to My name,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“I will send a curse upon you,
And I will curse your blessings.
Yes, I have cursed them calready,
Because you do not take it to heart.
3 “Behold, I will rebuke your descendants
And spread drefuse on your faces,
The refuse of your solemn feasts;
And one will etake you away 1with it.
4 Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you,
That My covenant with Levi may continue,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
5 “My fcovenant was with him, one of life and peace,
And I gave them to him gthat he might fear Me;
So he feared Me
And was reverent before My name.
6 hThe 2law of truth was in his mouth,
And 3injustice was not found on his lips.
He walked with Me in peace and equity,
And iturned many away from iniquity.
7 “For jthe lips of a priest should keep knowledge,
And people should seek the law from his mouth;
kFor he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
8 But you have departed from the way;
You lhave caused many to stumble at the law.
mYou have corrupted the covenant of Levi,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
9 “Therefore nI also have made you contemptible and base
Before all the people,
Because you have not kept My ways
But have shown opartiality in the law.”