Study Desk

The ^[a](a)oracle of the word of the Lord to ^(b)Israel through ^[b]Malachi.

"I have ^(c)loved you," says the Lord . But you say, "How have You loved us?" "Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the Lord . "Yet I ^(d)have loved Jacob;

but I have hated Esau, and I have ^(e)made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness."

Though Edom says, "We have been ^(f)beaten down, but we will ^[c](g)return and build up the ruins"; thus says the Lord of hosts, "They may ^(h)build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the ^[d]wicked territory, and the people ^[e]toward whom the Lord is indignant ⁽ⁱ⁾forever."

Your eyes will see this and you will say, "^(j)The Lord ^[f]be magnified beyond the ^[g]border of Israel!"

"‘A son ^(k)honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a ^(l)father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My ^[h]respect?' says the Lord of hosts to you, O ^(m)priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?'

You are presenting ⁽ⁿ⁾defiled ^[i](o)food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?' In that you say, ‘The ^(p)table of the Lord is to be despised.'

But when you present the ^(q)blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? ^[j]Why not offer it to your ^(r)governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?" says the Lord of hosts.

"But now ^[k]will you not ^(s)entreat God's favor, that He may be gracious to us? ^[l]With such an offering on your part, will He ^(t)receive any of you kindly?" says the Lord of hosts.

"Oh that there were one among you who would ^(u)shut the ^[m]gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you," says the Lord of hosts, "^(v)nor will I accept an offering from ^[n]you.

For from the ^(w)rising of the sun even to its setting, ^(x)My name will be ^(y)great among the nations, and in every place ^(z)incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be ^(aa)great among the nations," says the Lord of hosts.

"But you are ^(ab)profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.'

You also say, ‘^[o]My, how ^(ac)tiresome it is!' And you disdainfully sniff at it," says the Lord of hosts, "and you bring what was taken by ^(ad)robbery and what is ^(ae)lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I ^(af)receive that from your hand?" says the Lord .

"But cursed be the ^(ag)swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a ^(ah)blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great ^(ai)King," says the Lord of hosts, "and My name is ^[p](aj)feared among the ^[q]nations."