Malachi 1:1-8 ▼

1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say: 'Wherein hast Thou loved us?' Was not Esau Jacob's brother? Saith the LORD; Yet I loved Jacob;

3 But Esau I hated, And made his mountains a desolation, And gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness.

4 Whereas Edom saith: 'We are beaten down, But we will return and build the waste places'; Thus saith the LORD of hosts: They shall build, but I will throw down; And they shall be called The border of wickedness, And The people whom the LORD execrateth for ever.

5 And your eyes shall see, And ye shall say: 'The LORD is great beyond the border of Israel.'

6 A son honoureth his father, And a servant his master; If then I be a father, Where is My honour? And if I be a master, Where is My fear? Saith the LORD of hosts Unto you, O priests, that despise My name. And ye say: 'Wherein have we despised Thy name?'

7 Ye offer polluted bread upon Mine altar. And ye say: 'Wherein have we polluted thee?' In that ye say: 'The table of the LORD is contemptible.'

8 And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it no evil! And when ye offer the lame and sick, is it no evil! Present it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee? Or will he accept thy person? Saith the LORD of hosts.