The Lord’s Love for Israel

1An •oracle:a The word of the LORDb to Israel throughc Malachi.d

2“I have loved you,”e says the LORD.

But you ask: “How have You loved us? ”

“Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother? ”f This is the LORD’s declaration. “Even so, I loved Jacob, 3but I hated Esau.g I turned his mountains into a wasteland, and gave his inheritance to the desert jackals.”h

4Though Edom says: “We have been devastated, but we will rebuildi the ruins,” the LORD of •Hosts says this: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called a wicked countryj and the people the LORD has cursedk forever.l 5Your own eyes will see this, and you yourselves will say, ‘The LORD is great, even beyondm the borders of Israel.’n

Disobedience of the Priests

6“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your •fear of Me?o says •Yahweh of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name.”

Yet you ask: “How have we despised Your name? ”

7“By presenting defiled food on My altar.”

You ask: “How have we defiled You? ”p

When you say: “The LORD’s table is contemptible.”q

8“When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong?r Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor? ” asks the LORD of Hosts. 9“And now ask for God’s favor. Will He be gracious to us?s Since this has come from your hands, will He show any of you favor? ”t asks the LORD of Hosts. 10“I wish one of you would shut the temple doors,u so you would no longer kindle a useless fire on My altar!v I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will acceptw no offering from your hands.x

11“For My name will be great among the nations,y from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incensez and pure offerings will be presented in My name in every place because My name will be great among the nations,”aa says Yahweh of Hosts.

12But you are profaning itab when you say: “The Lord’s table is defiled, and its product, its food, is contemptible.” 13You also say: “Look, what a nuisance! ” “And you scornac it,”ad, ae says the LORD of Hosts. “You bring stolen,af, ag lame, or sick animals. You bring this as an offering! Am I to accept that from your hands? ” asks the LORD.

14“The deceiver is cursed who has an acceptable male in his flock and makes a vow but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord.ah For I am a great King,” says Yahweh of Hosts, “and My nameai will be feared among the nations.