Yahweh’s Love for Jacob

1The [†]oracle of the word of [†]Yahweh to Israel by the hand of [†]Malachi.

2“I have loved you,” says Yahweh. But you say, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares Yahweh. “Yet I have loved Jacob; 3but I have hated Esau, and I have set his mountains to be a desolation and his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness.” 4Though Edom says, “We have been demolished, but we will [†]return and build up the waste places”; thus says Yahweh of hosts, “They may build, but I will pull down; and men will call them a [†]territory of wickedness, and the people [†]toward whom Yahweh is indignant forever.” 5And your eyes will see this, and you will say, “Yahweh [†]be magnified beyond the [†]territory of Israel!”

The Priests Defile Yahweh

6“‘A son honors his father, and a slave his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is the fear of Me?’ says Yahweh of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’ 7You are presenting defiled [†]food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The table of Yahweh is to be despised.’ 8But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Please, bring it near to your governor! Would he accept you? Or would he lift up your face?” says Yahweh of hosts. 9“But now, [†]entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us! With this thing which is from your hand, will He lift up any of your faces?” says Yahweh of hosts. 10“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the [†]gates, that you might not light a fire on My altar in vain! I have no delight in you,” says Yahweh of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from your hand. 11For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be presented to My name, as well as a grain offering that is clean; for My name will be great among the nations,” says Yahweh of hosts. 12“But you are profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’ 13You also say, ‘Behold, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I accept that from your hand?” says Yahweh. 14“But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a [†]blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and My name is [†]feared among the [†]nations.”