Malachi 3:1-11 ▼

1 BEHOLD, I will send my messenger and he shall prepare the way before me; and he for whom you are waiting shall suddenly come to the temple of the LORD, even the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight; behold, he shall come, says the LORD of hosts.

2 But who can endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap;

3 For he shall return to refine and purify the people like silver; and he shall cleanse the sons of Levi and purge them like gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness.

4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant to the LORD, as in the days of old and as in former years.

5 And I will come near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely and against those who defraud the laborer of his wages, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow; and those who turn aside him who turns to me, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.

6 For I am the LORD, I change not; but you sons of Jacob have not departed from your iniquities.

7 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?

8 Will a man defraud God as you have defrauded me? But you say, How have we defrauded thee? In tithes and offerings.

9 You are cursed with curses, and yet you defraud me.

10 Bring all the tithes into my storehouse that there may be food in my house, and prove me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, and I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out blessings for you until you shall say, It is enough.

11 And I will rebuke the devourer, so that it shall not destroy the fruits of the land; neither shall your vine cast its fruit before the time in the field, says the LORD of hosts.