Yahweh’s Love for Israel
(Genesis 25:19–28; Romans 9:6–29)

1The burden of the word of YHWH to Israel by the hand of Malachi:†

2“I have loved you⁺,” says YHWH.

And you⁺ say, “In what way have You loved us?”

“Was not Esau a brother to Jacob?” An utterance of YHWH. “And I have loved Jacob, 3and Esau I have hated,† and I set his mountains as a desolation and his inheritance for the jackals of the desert.†”

4If Edom should say, “We have been beaten down, and we will return and will build the ruins,” thus says YHWH of Hosts: “They may build, and I, I will tear down; and they will call to them the Territory of Wickedness, The people with whom YHWH will be angry even to forever. 5And your⁺ eyes will see, and you⁺ will say, ‘Great is YHWH from beyond the border of Israel!’”

The Polluted Offerings

6“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. And if I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am the Master, where is the fear due Me?” Says YHWH of Hosts to you⁺, O priests despising My name.

“And you⁺ say, ‘In what have we despised Your name?’

7By bringing near upon My altar food that is defiled.

And you⁺ say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?†’

By your⁺ saying that the table of YHWH, it is despised!

8For when 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 now to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or would he lift up your face?” Says YHWH of Hosts.

9“And now, beseech, please, the face of God, and He will be gracious to us. From your⁺ hand this has come; will he lift up your⁺ faces?” Says YHWH of Hosts.

10“Who even among you⁺ will shut the doors, so that you⁺ could not kindle fire on My altar in vain? There is not for Me delight in you⁺,” says YHWH of Hosts, “And an offering I will not accept from your⁺ hand!

11For from the rising of the sun to its going down, great is My name among the nations; in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering. Indeed, My name will be great among the nations.” Says YHWH of Hosts. 12“And you⁺ profane it by your⁺ saying, The table of the Lord, it is defiled,’ and of its fruit, ‘Its food is contemptible’

13and You⁺ also say, ‘Behold, a weariness,’ and you⁺ sneer at it,” says YHWH of Hosts,

“And you⁺ bring the stolen, and the lame, and the sick, and you⁺ bring the offering! Should I accept this from your⁺ hands?” Says YHWH.

14“And cursed is the one plotting, and a male is in his flock, and vowing it and sacrificing what is blemished to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says YHWH of Hosts, “And My name is feared among the nations.