Malachi 1

An oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi. “I have loved you,” says the LORD. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau. I made his mountains a desolation and gave his inheritance to the jackals of the wilderness.” Though Edom says, “We have been beaten down, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of hosts says: “They may build, but I will tear down. They will be called ‘the territory of wickedness’ and ‘the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.’ Your own eyes will see it, and you will say, ‘Great is the LORD beyond the borders of Israel!’ A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is my honor? If I am a master, where is the fear due me?” says the LORD of hosts. “You priests despise my name, yet you ask, ‘How have we despised your name?’ You offer defiled food on my altar. Yet you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ By saying, ‘The LORD’s table is contemptible.’ When you offer a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not evil? When you offer a lame or sick animal, is it not evil? Present it to your governor! Will he be pleased with you or receive you with favor?” says the LORD of hosts. “Now seek God’s favor, that he may be gracious to us. This has come from your hands. Will he receive any of you with favor?” says the LORD of hosts. “If only one of you would shut the doors, so that you would not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I will not accept an offering from your hands. For from the rising of the sun to its setting, my name is great among the nations. In every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering, for my name is great among the nations,” says the LORD of hosts. “But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled, and its produce, its food, is contemptible.’ You say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it,” says the LORD of hosts. “You bring what is stolen, lame, or sick, and present it as an offering. Should I accept it from your hands?” says the LORD. “Cursed is the deceiver who has a male in his flock and makes a vow, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD of hosts, “and my name is feared among the nations.

Rights and attribution