Malachi 1

1Oracle: the word of Yahweh to Israel by Malachi.

2I have loved you," says Yahweh, but you say, "How have you loved us?" "Was Esau not Jacob's brother?" says Yahweh; "yet I loved Jacob.

3but I hated Esau, made his mountains desolate, and gave his inheritance to the jackals of the wilderness.

4Because Edom says, “We have been ruined, but we will return and rebuild the desolate places,” thus says Yahweh of hosts: “They will build, but I will tear down; and people will call them the Border of Wickedness, the nation against whom Yahweh’s indignation endures forever.”

5Your eyes will see, and you will say, "Yahweh will be magnified beyond Israel's border."

6A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is my honor? If I am a master, where is my fear? says Yahweh of hosts to you, priests who despise my name. You say, "In what way have we despised your name?"

7You offer defiled bread on my altar, and you say, "How have we defiled you?"—by declaring, "Yahweh's table is despised."

8When you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it now to your governor—will he accept you, or look favorably on you? says Yahweh of hosts.

9Now, please beseech God's favor, that he may be gracious to us—this has arisen from your hand. Will he accept your persons? says Yahweh of hosts.

10Who among you would even shut the doors, that you not kindle my altar in vain? I have no delight in you, says Yahweh of hosts, nor will I accept an offering from your hand.

11For from the sun's rising to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name with a pure offering—for my name is great among the nations, says Yahweh of hosts.

12But you defile it by saying, "The Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit—its food—is contemptible."

13You say, "See, what a burden!" and you puff at it, says Yahweh of hosts; you bring what is plundered, the lame, and the sick, thus bringing the offering—should I accept it from your hand? says Yahweh.

14Cursed is the deceiver who has a male in his flock and vows and sacrifices something corrupt to the Lord, for I am a great King, says Yahweh of hosts, and my name is awesome among the nations.