¹A revelation, the LORD ’s word to Israel by Malachi .[#1:1 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name.]

²“I have loved you ,” says the LORD .

Yet you say, “How have you loved us?”

“Wasn’t Esau Jacob ’s brother?” says the LORD , “Yet I loved Jacob ;

³but Esau I hated , and made his mountains a desolation , and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness .”

⁴Whereas Edom says , “We are beaten down , but we will return and build the waste places ,” the LORD of Hosts says , “They shall build , but I will throw down ; and men will call them ‘The Wicked Land ,’ even the people against whom the LORD shows wrath forever .”

⁵Your eyes will see , and you will say , “The LORD is great —even beyond the border of Israel !”

⁶“A son honours his father , and a servant his master. If I am a father , then where is my honour ? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me ?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise my name . “You say, ‘How have we despised your name ?’

⁷You offer polluted bread on my altar . You say, ‘How have we polluted you ?’ In that you say, ‘The LORD ’s table is contemptible.’

⁸When you offer the blind for sacrifice , isn’t that evil ? And when you offer the lame and sick , isn’t that evil ? Present it now to your governor ! Will he be pleased with you ? Or will he accept your person ?” says the LORD of Hosts .

⁹“Now , please entreat the favour of God , that he may be gracious to us . With this , will he accept any of you ?” says the LORD of Hosts .[#1:9 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “” (Elohim).]

¹⁰“Oh that there were one amongst you who would shut the doors , that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain ! I have no pleasure in you ,” says the LORD of Hosts , “neither will I accept an offering at your hand .

¹¹For from the rising of the sun even to its going down , my name is great amongst the nations , and in every place incense will be offered to my name , and a pure offering ; for my name is great amongst the nations ,” says the LORD of Hosts .

¹²“But you profane it when you say, ‘The LORD ’s table is polluted , and its fruit , even its food, is contemptible.’

¹³You say also , ‘Behold , what a weariness it is !’ And you have sniffed at it ”, says the LORD of Hosts ; “and you have brought that which was taken by violence , the lame , and the sick ; thus you bring the offering . Should I accept this at your hand ?” says the LORD .[#1:13 “Behold”, from “”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.]

¹⁴“But the deceiver is cursed who has in his flock a male , and vows and sacrifices to the Lord a defective thing ; for I am a great King ,” says the LORD of Hosts , “and my name is awesome amongst the nations .”[#1:14 The word translated “Lord” (mixed case) is “Adonai.”]