1The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
2I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, In what hast thou loved us? [Was] not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
3And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
4Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.
5And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
6A son honoreth [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] my fear? saith the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, In what have we despised thy name?
7Ye offer polluted bread upon my altar? and ye say, In what have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD [is] contemptible.
8And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, [is it] not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, [is it] not evil? offer it now to thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
9And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious to us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your person? saith the LORD of hosts.
10Who [is there] even among you that would shut the doors [for nought]? neither do ye kindle [fire] on my altar for naught. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
11For from the rising of the sun even to the setting of the same, my name [shall be] great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense [shall be] offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name [shall be] great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
12But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD [is] polluted; and the fruit of it, [even] his provision, is contemptible.
13Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness [is it]! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought [that which was] torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this from your hand? saith the LORD.
14But cursed [be] the deceiver, who hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing: for I [am] a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name [is] dreadful among the heathen.