MALACHI 1
1 The heavy word of Yahweh to Israel from the hand of Malachi:
2 Yahweh says, “I have loved you!” But you are saying, “In what way have you loved us?” “Isn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” is Yahweh’s response, “yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated, and I have appointed his mountain to be a wasteland and his inheritance to the beasts of the desert.”
4 For Edom says, “We were destroyed, but we will rebuild the ruins!” Therefore Yahweh of Warriors says, “These people…they will build, but I will knock down! They will be called ‘the land of wickedness,’ and ‘the people with whom Yahweh is incensed until the Age.’ 5 And you will see this with your own eyes, and you will say, “May Yahweh be magnified even beyond the border of Israel!”
6 “A son will honour his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is my honour? And if I am a master, where is my fear?” says Yahweh of Warriors to you, the priests, who disregard my name. But you will say, “How have we disregarded your name?” 7 It’s those who bring defiled food on my altar. Yet you are saying, “How have we defiled you?” In saying Yahweh’s table is to be disregarded! 8 For you bring the blind to sacrifice – is that not evil? Also the lame and sick – is that not evil too? Tell you what, present that to the governor and see if he is pleased with you or will welcome you, says Yahweh of Warriors. 9 So now, I say, humble yourselves to God’s face and he will show us favour. While this is what comes from your hand, why should he accept you? says Yahweh of Warriors.
10 Would one of you just shut the doors so you will stop lighting up my altar pointlessly! I take no pleasure in you, says Yahweh of Warriors, nor will I accept any offering from your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting, my name will be great among the nations. And in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering, for my name is great among the nations, says Yahweh of Warriors. 12 But you are profaning him when you say, ‘My Lord’s table is defiled, and its fruit – his food – is disregarded.’ 13 You also say, ‘Look, how boring is this?’ and you sigh about it, said Yahweh of Warriors. And you bring what has been violently stolen, and the lame, and the sick, and this is your offering! Should I accept this from your hand? says Yahweh. 14 But cursed be the deceiver who has a male in his flock, but he vows and sacrifices what is blemished to ‘my Lord,’ because I am a great king, says Yahweh of Warriors, and my name will be feared among the nations.
Comments
14) 'my Lord' - I am a stickler for keeping the original pronouns etc. correct; it's not 'the Lord,' it's 'my Lord'. The way to make it work in this case is to put it in quotes as if God is mocking those who offer to him, who are not really thinking of him at all. That's why he reminds them he is a great king to be feared.
14) 'my Lord' - I am a stickler for keeping the original pronouns etc. correct; it's not 'the Lord,' it's 'my Lord'. The way to make it work in this case is to put it in quotes as if God is mocking those who offer to him, who are not really thinking of him at all. That's why he reminds them he is a great king to be feared.