The Lord’s Love for Israel

1 An * oracle: a The word of the Lord b to Israel through c Malachi. d

2 “I have loved you,” e says the Lord.

But you ask: “How have You loved us?”

“Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” f This is the Lord’s declaration. “Even so, I loved Jacob, 3 but I hated Esau. g I turned his mountains into a wasteland, and gave his inheritance to the desert jackals.” h

4 Though Edom says: “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild i the ruins,” the Lord of * Hosts says this: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called a wicked country j and the people the Lord has cursed k forever. l 5 Your own eyes will see this, and you yourselves will say, ‘The Lord is great, even beyond m the borders of Israel.’ n

Disobedience of the Priests

6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your * fear of Me? o says * Yahweh of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name.”

Yet you ask: “How have we despised Your name?”

7 “By presenting defiled food on My altar.”

You ask: “How have we defiled You?” p

When you say: “The Lord’s table is contemptible.” q

8 “When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong? r Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the Lord of Hosts. 9 “And now ask for God’s favor. Will He be gracious to us? s Since this has come from your hands, will He show any of you favor?” t asks the Lord of Hosts. 10 “I wish one of you would shut the temple doors, u so you would no longer kindle a useless fire on My altar! v I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Hosts, “and I will accept w no offering from your hands. x

11 “For My name will be great among the nations, y from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense z and pure offerings will be presented in My name in every place because My name will be great among the nations,” a says Yahweh of Hosts.

12 But you are profaning it b when you say: “The Lord’s table is defiled, and its product, its food, is contemptible.” 13 You also say: “Look, what a nuisance!” “And you scorn c it,” d e says the Lord of Hosts. “You bring stolen, f g lame, or sick animals. You bring this as an offering! Am I to accept that from your hands?” asks the Lord.

14 “The deceiver is cursed who has an acceptable male in his flock and makes a vow but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. h For I am a great King,” says Yahweh of Hosts, “and My name i will be feared among the nations.