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the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
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New Living Translation

Malachi 3:7

Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. "But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?'

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Backsliders;   Condescension of God;   Malachi;   Presumption;   Repentance;   Thompson Chain Reference - Backsliding;   Deterioration-Development;   Generosity;   Liberality;   Liberality-Parsimony;   Ordinances;   Penitence-Impenitence;   Repentance;   Returning to God;   Sorrow;   The Topic Concordance - Turning;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Justice;   Malachi;   Repentance;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Work;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Hope;   Malachi;   Suffering;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Forgiveness;   Heliodorus;   Malachi;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Messiah;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ordinance;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Malachi;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Nehemiah;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - John, the Baptize;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Conversion;   Day;   Malachi;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Hafá¹­arah;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for February 25;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Since the days of your fathers, you have turned from my statutes; you have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Armies.
King James Version (1611)
Euen from the dayes of your fathers yee are gone away from mine ordinances, and haue not kept them: returne vnto me, and I will returne vnto you, saith the Lord of hosts: But ye said, Wherein shall we returne?
King James Version
Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
English Standard Version
From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?'
New American Standard Bible
"From the days of your fathers you have turned away from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the LORD of armies. "But you say, 'How shall we return?'
New Century Version
Since the time of your ancestors, you have disobeyed my rules and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the Lord All-Powerful. "But you ask, ‘How can we return?'
Amplified Bible
"Yet from the days of your fathers you have turned away from My statutes and ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the LORD of hosts. "But you say, 'How shall we return?'
Geneva Bible (1587)
From the dayes of your fathers, ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and haue not kept them: returne vnto me, and I will returne vnto you, saith the Lord of hostes: but ye saide, Wherein shall we returne?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the LORD of hosts. "But you say, 'How shall we return?'
Legacy Standard Bible
"From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says Yahweh of hosts. "But you say, ‘How shall we return?'
Berean Standard Bible
Yet from the days of your fathers, you have turned away from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the LORD of Hosts. But you ask, "How can we return?"
Contemporary English Version
even though you have ignored and disobeyed my laws ever since the time of your ancestors. But if you return to me, I will return to you. And yet you ask, "How can we return?"
Complete Jewish Bible
Since the days of your forefathers you have turned from my laws and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says Adonai -Tzva'ot. "But you ask, ‘In respect to what are we supposed to return?'
Darby Translation
Since the days of your fathers have ye departed from my statutes, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith Jehovah of hosts. But ye say, Wherein shall we return?
Easy-to-Read Version
But you never obeyed my laws. Even your ancestors stopped following me. Come back to me, and I will come back to you." This is what the Lord All-Powerful said. "You say, ‘How can we come back?'
George Lamsa Translation
Even from the days of your fathers you have gone astray from my ordinances and have not obeyed them. Return to me and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, How shall we return?
Good News Translation
You, like your ancestors before you, have turned away from my laws and have not kept them. Turn back to me, and I will turn to you. But you ask, ‘What must we do to turn back to you?'
Lexham English Bible
From the days of your ancestors you have turned aside from my rules, and have not kept them! Return to me and I will return to you," says Yahweh of hosts, "but you say, ‘How shall we return?'
Literal Translation
From the days of your fathers, you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them . Return to Me, and I will return to you, says Jehovah of Hosts. But you say, In what shall we return?
American Standard Version
From the days of your fathers ye have turned aside from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith Jehovah of hosts. But ye say, Wherein shall we return?
Bible in Basic English
From the days of your fathers you have been turned away from my rules and have not kept them. Come back to me, and I will come back to you, says the Lord of armies. But you say, How are we to come back?
Hebrew Names Version
From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD of Hosts. "But you say, 'How shall we return?'
JPS Old Testament (1917)
From the days of your fathers ye have turned aside from Mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye say: 'Wherein shall we return?'
Bishop's Bible (1568)
From the dayes of your fathers ye are gone away from myne ordinaunces, and haue not kept [them:] turne you to me, and I wyll turne to you, saith the Lorde of hoastes. And ye saide, Wherein shall we returne?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
but ye, the sons of Jacob, have not refrained from the iniquities of your fathers: ye have perverted my statutes, and have not kept them.
English Revised Version
From the days of your fathers ye have turned aside from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye say, Wherein shall we return?
World English Bible
From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says Yahweh of Hosts. "But you say, 'How shall we return?'
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe fro daies of youre fadris ye wenten awei fro my lawful thingis, and kepten not; turne ye ayen to me, and Y schal ayen turne to you, seith the Lord of oostis. And ye seiden, In what thing schulen we turne ayen?
Update Bible Version
From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says Yahweh of hosts. But you say, Wherein shall we return?
Webster's Bible Translation
Even from the days of your fathers ye have gone away from my ordinances, and have not kept [them]. Return to me, and I will return to you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, In what shall we return?
New English Translation
From the days of your ancestors you have ignored my commandments and have not kept them! Return to me, and I will return to you," says the Lord who rules over all. "But you say, ‘How should we return?'
New King James Version
Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," Says the LORD of hosts. "But you said, "In what way shall we return?'
New Life Bible
"From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My Laws and have not obeyed them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the Lord of All. "But you say, ‘How are we to return?'
New Revised Standard
Ever since the days of your ancestors you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, "How shall we return?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
From the days of your fathers, have ye departed from my statutes, and not observed them, Return ye unto me, that I may return unto you, saith Yahweh of hosts. And yet ye say, Wherein shall we return?
Douay-Rheims Bible
For from the days of your fathers you have departed from my ordinances, and have not kept them: Return to me, and I will return to you, saith the Lord of hosts. And you have said: Wherein shall we return?
Revised Standard Version
From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, 'How shall we return?'
Young's Literal Translation
Even from the days of your fathers Ye have turned aside from My statutes, And ye have not taken heed. Turn back unto Me, and I turn back to you, Said Jehovah of Hosts. And ye have said, `In what do we turn back?'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
ye are gone awaye fro myne ordinauces, & sens ye tyme of youre forefathers haue ye not kepte them. Turne you now vnto me, and I wil turne me vnto you, sayeth the LORDE of hoostes. Ye saye: Wherin shal we turne?

Contextual Overview

7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. "But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?' 8 "Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! "But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?' "You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. 12 "Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

from the: Deuteronomy 9:7-21, Deuteronomy 31:20, Deuteronomy 31:27-29, Nehemiah 9:16, Nehemiah 9:17, Nehemiah 9:26, Nehemiah 9:28-30, Psalms 78:8-10, Ezekiel 20:8, Ezekiel 20:13, Ezekiel 20:21, Ezekiel 20:28, Luke 11:48-51, Acts 7:51, Acts 7:52

Return unto me: Leviticus 26:40-42, Deuteronomy 4:29-31, Deuteronomy 30:1-4, 1 Kings 8:47-49, Nehemiah 1:8, Nehemiah 1:9, Isaiah 55:6, Isaiah 55:7, Jeremiah 3:12-14, Jeremiah 3:22, Ezekiel 18:30-32, Hosea 14:1, Zechariah 1:3, James 4:8

Wherein: Malachi 3:13, Malachi 1:6, Isaiah 65:2, Matthew 23:27, Luke 15:16, Romans 7:9, Romans 10:3, Romans 10:21

Reciprocal: Psalms 6:4 - Return Psalms 80:14 - Return Isaiah 43:27 - first father Ezekiel 18:17 - he shall not Ezekiel 24:19 - General Daniel 9:5 - departing Malachi 1:2 - Wherein

Cross-References

Genesis 2:25
Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.
Genesis 3:5
"God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil."
Genesis 3:10
He replied, "I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked."
Genesis 3:11
"Who told you that you were naked?" the Lord God asked. "Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?"
Deuteronomy 28:34
You will go mad because of all the tragedy you see around you.
2 Kings 6:20
As soon as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, "O Lord , now open their eyes and let them see." So the Lord opened their eyes, and they discovered that they were in the middle of Samaria.
Isaiah 28:20
The bed you have made is too short to lie on. The blankets are too narrow to cover you.
Isaiah 59:6
Their webs can't be made into clothing, and nothing they do is productive. All their activity is filled with sin, and violence is their trademark.
Luke 16:23
and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances,.... Here begins an enumeration of the sins of the Jews, which were the cause of their ruin; and here is first a general charge of apostasy from the statutes and ordinances of the law, which they made void by the traditions of the fathers; and therefore this word is used as referring to this evil, as well as to express their early, long, and continued departure from the ways of God; which as it was an aggravation of their sin, that they should have so long ago forsook the ordinances of God,

and have not kept [them], but transgressed them by observing the traditions of men, Matthew 15:3 so it is an instance of the patience and forbearance of God, that they were not as yet consumed; and of his grace and goodness, that he should address them as follows:

Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts; this message was carried to them by John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, and by Christ himself, who both preached the doctrine of repentance to this people, Matthew 3:2. The Targum is,

"return to my worship, and I will look in my word to do well unto you, saith the Lord of hosts;''

and such who returned, and believed in Christ, and submitted to his ordinances, it was well with them.

But ye said, Wherein shall we return? what have we to turn from, or repent of? what evils have we done, or can be charged on us? what need have we of repentance or conversion, or of such an exhortation to it? do not we keep the law, and all the rituals of it? this is the true language of the Pharisees in Christ's time, who, touching the righteousness of the law, were blameless in their own esteem, and were the ninety and nine just persons that needed not repentance,

Luke 15:7.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Even from the days of your fathers - Back to those days and from them ye are gone away from My ordinances. “I am not changed from good; ye are not changed from evil. I am unchangeable in holiness; ye are unchangeable in perversity.”

Return unto Me - The beginning of our return is from the preventing grace of God. Jeremiah 31:18; Lamentations 5:21, “turn Thou me, and I shall be turned, for Thou art the Lord my God,” is the voice of the soul to God, preparing for His grace; Psalms 85:4, “turn us, O God of our salvation.” For, not in its own strength, but by His grace can the soul turn to God. “Turn thou to Me and I will return unto you,” is the Voice of God, acknowledging our free-will, and promising His favor, if we accept His grace in return.

And ye say, Wherein shall we return? - Strange ignorance of the blinded soul, unconscious that God has aught against it! It is the Pharisaic spirit in the Gospel. It would own itself doubtless in general terms a sinner, but when called on, wholly to turn to God, as being wholly turned from Him, it asks, “In what? What would God have of me?” as if ready to do it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Malachi 3:7. Gone away from mine ordinances — Never acting according to their spirit and design.

Return unto me — There is still space to repent.

Wherein shall we return? — Their consciences were seared, and they knew not that they were sinners.


 
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