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¹ The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.^[a]

The Lord's Love for Israel

^2 (a)"I have loved you," says the Lord. ^(b)But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not Esau ^(c)Jacob's brother?" declares the Lord. "Yet ^(d)I have loved Jacob ³ but Esau I have hated. ^(e)I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert." ⁴ If Edom says, "We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins," the Lord of hosts says, "They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,' and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.'" ^5 (f)Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, "Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!"

The Priests' Polluted Offerings

^6 (g)"A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am ^(h)a father, where is my honor? And if I am ⁽ⁱ⁾a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. ^(j)But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?' ^7 (k)By offering polluted food upon my altar. ^(l)But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?' By saying that ^(m)the Lord's table may be despised. ^8 (n)When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. ⁹ And now ^(o)entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, ^(p)will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. ^10 (q)Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, ^(r)and I will not accept an offering from your hand. ¹¹ For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name ^(s)will be^[b] great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name ^(t)will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. ¹² But you profane it when you say that ^(u)the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. ¹³ But you say, ^(v)‘What a weariness this is,' and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. ^(w)You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. ¹⁴ Cursed be the cheat who has ^(x)a male in his flock, and ^(y)vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For ^(z)I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name ^(aa)will be feared among the nations.