Malachi 1

1The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by the hand of Malachi:

2“I have loved you,” says Yahweh. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares Yahweh. “Yet I loved Jacob,”

3but Esau I hated, and I made his mountains a desolation and his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness.

4Though Edom says, “We are shattered, but we will return and rebuild the ruins,” this is what Yahweh of Armies says: “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called the territory of wickedness, the people with whom Yahweh is indignant forever.”

5Your own eyes will see, and you yourselves will say, “Great is Yahweh beyond the border of Israel.”

6A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If, then, I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the fear due me? says the LORD of Armies to you, O priests who despise my name. Yet you say, “How have we despised your name?”

7By presenting defiled food on my altar. But you say, “How have we defiled you?” By saying, “The table of Yahweh is despised.”

8When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you present one that is lame or sick, is that not evil? Present it, please, to your governor. Will he accept you, or show you favor? says Yahweh of hosts.

9And now, entreat God for favor, that he may be gracious to us. From your hand has this come; will he show favor to any of you? says Yahweh of hosts.

10Oh, that there were even one among you who would shut the doors, so that you would not kindle my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says Yahweh of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.

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

12But you are profaning it by saying, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and its fruit, its food, is despised.’

13And you say, ‘Look, what a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says Yahweh of hosts. And you bring what is stolen, and the lame, and the sick; thus you bring the offering. Should I accept it from your hand? says Yahweh.

14But cursed is the deceiver who has a male in his flock, and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great King, says Yahweh of Armies, and my name is feared among the nations.