Malachi 1

1 A message: the word of the Lord to Israel by the hand of his messenger. Take it to heart.

2 “I have loved you,”

says the Lord. But you ask,

“How have you loved us?”

“Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?”

says the Lord.

“Yet I loved Jacob

3 and hated Esau. I laid waste his borders and made his inheritance dwellings in the wilderness.”

4 Because Edom will say,

“Our land has been overthrown, but let us return and rebuild the ruins,”

the Lord Almighty says:

“They may build, but I will tear down. They will be called the Border of Lawlessness and the people against whom the Lord has set himself forever.”

5 Your own eyes will see it, and you will say,

“The Lord has shown his greatness beyond the borders of Israel.”

6 “A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is my honor? If I am a master, where is fear of me?”

says the Lord Almighty.

“You priests are the ones who despise my name. Yet you ask,”

“How have we despised your name?”

7 “By bringing polluted bread to my altar. And you ask,”

“How have we polluted it?”

“By saying,”

“The Lord’s table is despised, and the food set on it is despised.”

8 “If you bring a blind animal for sacrifice, is that not evil? And if you bring one that is lame or sick, is that not evil? Offer it to your leader! See whether he will accept it or show you favor,” says the Lord Almighty.

9 “And now seek favor from your God and plead with him. These things were done by your hands. Will I welcome you?”

says the Lord Almighty.

10 “Because of you the doors will be shut, and you will not kindle my altar for nothing. I take no pleasure in you,”

says the Lord Almighty,

“and I will not accept an offering from your hands.

11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting, my name has been honored among the nations. In every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering, because my name is great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.

12 “But you treat it as common when you say, ‘The Lord’s table is polluted, and the food placed on it is despised.’”

13 “You say,”

“These things come from hardship,”

“but I blow them away,”

says the Lord Almighty.

“You bring what was torn, lame, or sick. If you bring such an offering, should I accept it from your hands?”

says the Lord Almighty.

14 “Cursed is the man who has the means and has a sound male in his flock, but after making a vow sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,”

says the Lord Almighty,

“and my name is renowned among the nations.”