Malachi 1:1-8 ▼

1 An oracle: The word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi.”

2 I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask: “How have You loved us?|” Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” This is the LORD’s declaration. “Even so, I loved Jacob,

3 but I hated Esau. I turned his mountains into a wasteland, and gave his inheritance to the desert jackals.”

4 Though Edom says: “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” the LORD of Hosts says this: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called a wicked country and the people the LORD has cursed forever.

5 Your own eyes will see this, and you yourselves will say, ‘The LORD is great, even beyond the borders of Israel.’”

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

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? Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts. “