Malachi 3

1Look, I am sending my messenger, and he will clear the path before me; then the Lord you seek will come suddenly to his temple, the messenger of the covenant you long for—see, he comes, declares Yahweh of hosts.

2Who can bear the day of his coming? Who will stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.

3He will sit refining and purifying silver, purify the sons of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver, so they may present righteous offerings to Yahweh.

4Then the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please Yahweh, as in days long past and years from antiquity.

5I will draw near to you for judgment and be a prompt witness against sorcerers, adulterers, and false swearers, against those who defraud workers of their wages, widows, and orphans, and against those who deny foreigners justice, since you do not fear me, declares Yahweh of hosts.

6For I, Yahweh, do not change; therefore you sons of Jacob are not destroyed.

7Since your forefathers' days you have strayed from my decrees and failed to follow them. Return to me, and I will return to you, declares Yahweh of hosts. But you ask, "How can we return?"

8Would anyone rob God? Yet you rob me. You say, "How have we robbed you?" In tithes and offerings.

9You stand cursed under the curse, for you rob me—this whole nation.

10Bring the full tithe into the treasury, so there will be provisions in my house, and challenge me now on this point, declares Yahweh of hosts—if I do not open the windows of heaven for you and pour a blessing upon you until no space remains.

11I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he will not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither will your vine cast its fruit before its time in the field, says Yahweh of hosts.

12All nations will call you fortunate, because you will be a desirable land, declares Yahweh of hosts.

13Your words have been harsh against me, says Yahweh. Yet you ask, "How have we spoken against you?"

14You have said, "It is pointless to serve God—what do we gain by keeping his requirements and going about in gloom before Yahweh of hosts?"

15Now we deem the arrogant fortunate; evildoers prosper; they defy God and go unpunished.

16Then those who revered Yahweh conversed together, and Yahweh listened attentively and heard; a record book was written before him for those who revered Yahweh and treasured his name.

17They will be mine," declares Yahweh of hosts, "my treasured possession on the day I prepare it, and I will have compassion on them, as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.

18Then you will return and see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not serve him.