1Contempt for the LORD's Table
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
1This is the heavy message the LORD gave to Israel through Malachi.
2I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
2"I have loved you," says the LORD. "But you ask, 'How have you loved us?' Wasn't Esau Jacob's brother?" says the LORD. "Yet I loved Jacob,
3And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
3and I rejected Esau. I turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the jackals of the desert."
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.
4Edom may say, "We have been crushed, but we will come back and rebuild the ruins." But this is what the LORD of hosts says: "They may build, but I will tear it down. People will call them the Wicked Land, and the people the LORD is angry with forever."
5And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
5You will see it with your own eyes, and you will say, "The LORD is great, even beyond the borders of Israel!"
6A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
6"A son honors his father, and a servant honors his master. So if I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the respect I am owed?" says the LORD of hosts to you priests who look down on my name. "But you ask, 'How have we looked down on your name?'
7Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
7You offer unclean food on my altar. And you ask, 'How have we made you unclean?' By saying that the LORD's table deserves no respect.
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 unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
8When you bring a blind animal to sacrifice, isn't that wrong? When you bring one that is lame or sick, isn't that wrong? Try offering it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you, or welcome you?" says the LORD of hosts.
9And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.
9"Now go ahead and beg God to be kind to us. With gifts like these from your hands, will he welcome any of you?" says the LORD of hosts.
10Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
10"If only one of you would shut the temple doors, so you would stop lighting useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD of hosts, "and I will not accept an offering from your hands.
11For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
11From where the sun rises to where it sets, my name will be great among the nations. In every place incense and a pure offering will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD of hosts.
12But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.
12"But you treat it as common when you say, 'The LORD's table is unclean, and the food on it is not worth respecting.'
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 of your hand? saith the LORD.
13You also say, 'What a tiresome chore this is!' and you turn up your noses at it," says the LORD of hosts. "You bring animals that are injured, lame, or sick, and you offer them to me. Should I accept that from your hands?" says the LORD.
14But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
14"A curse on the cheat who has a healthy male in his flock and promises it, then sacrifices a damaged animal to the Lord instead! For I am a great King," says the LORD of hosts, "and my name is feared among the nations."
2Faithless Priests and Faithless Husbands
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.
1"And now, you priests, this command is for you.
2If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
2If you will not listen, and will not take it to heart to give honor to my name," says the LORD of hosts, "then I will send a curse on you, and I will turn your blessings into curses. In fact, I have already cursed them, because you do not take it to heart.
3Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.
3Watch: I will ruin your crops, and I will smear the waste from your festival sacrifices on your faces, and you will be carried off with it.
4And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
4Then you will know that I sent you this command so that my covenant with Levi might continue," says the LORD of hosts.
5My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
5"My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave those to him so that he would honor me; and he did honor me and stood in awe of my name.
6The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
6True teaching was in his mouth, and nothing wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and fairness, and he turned many people away from sin.
7For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
7A priest's lips should guard knowledge, and people should look for instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
8But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
8But you have turned off the path. Your teaching has made many people stumble. You have broken the covenant with Levi," says the LORD of hosts.
9Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.
9"So I in turn have made you despised and looked down on by all the people, because you have not kept my ways but have shown favoritism in how you apply the law."
10Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
10Don't we all have one Father? Didn't one God create us? Then why do we betray one another and break the covenant our ancestors made?
11Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
11Judah has been unfaithful. A disgusting thing has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has defiled the holy place the LORD loves by marrying women who worship a foreign god.
12The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.
12May the LORD remove from the tents of Jacob every man who does this, whether teacher or student, even if he brings an offering to the LORD of hosts.
13And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.
13And here is something else you do: you flood the LORD's altar with tears, weeping and wailing, because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them gladly from your hands.
14Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
14You ask, "Why not?" Because the LORD stood as a witness between you and the wife of your youth, and you have been unfaithful to her, even though she is your partner and the wife you made a covenant with.
15And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
15Didn't he make the two of you one? Yes, and he had plenty of spirit left over. And why one? Because he was looking for children who belong to God. So guard your own spirit, and let no one be unfaithful to the wife of his youth.
16For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
16The LORD, the God of Israel, says he hates it when a man sends his wife away, for that man covers his clothing with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard your own spirit, and do not be unfaithful.
17Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
17You have worn the LORD out with your words. Yet you ask, "How have we worn him out?" By saying, "Everyone who does evil is good in the LORD's eyes, and he is pleased with them," or, "Where is the God of justice?"
3The Refiner's Fire and the Tithes
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
1"Look, I am sending my messenger, and he will clear the way ahead of me. Then the LORD you are looking for will suddenly come to his temple, the messenger of the covenant you long for. Yes, he is coming," says the LORD of hosts.
2But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
2But who can endure the day he comes? Who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like the strong soap of a launderer.
3And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
3He will sit like someone refining and purifying silver. He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so they can bring the LORD offerings in the right way.
4Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
4Then the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD, as they did in the old days, in years long past.
5And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
5"I will come near to you to judge, and I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers, and people who swear falsely; against those who cheat workers of their pay and mistreat widows and orphans; against those who deny foreigners justice and do not fear me," says the LORD of hosts.
6For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
6"I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you children of Jacob have not been wiped out.
7Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
7Ever since the days of your ancestors you have turned away from my laws and failed to keep them. Come back to me, and I will come back to you," says the LORD of hosts. "But you ask, 'How are we supposed to come back?'
8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
8Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you ask, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and offerings.
9Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
9You are under a curse, because you are robbing me, this whole nation of you.
10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house. Put me to the test in this," says the LORD of hosts, "and see if I don't open the windows of heaven for you and pour out so much blessing that you won't have room to hold it.
11And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
11I will hold back the pests for your sake, so they will not destroy the crops of your land, and your vines in the field will not drop their fruit before it is ripe," says the LORD of hosts.
12And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
12"Then all the nations will call you blessed, because you will be a delightful land," says the LORD of hosts.
13Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
13"You have said harsh things against me," says the LORD. "Yet you ask, 'What have we said against you?'
14Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
14You have said, 'It is useless to serve God. What did we gain by keeping his rules and walking around in mourning before the LORD of hosts?
15And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
15Now we call the arrogant happy. People who do evil get ahead, and those who put God to the test get away with it.'"
16Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
16Then the people who feared the LORD talked with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. A book of remembrance was written in his presence for those who feared the LORD and honored his name.
17And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
17"They will be mine," says the LORD of hosts, "on the day I gather my jewels; and I will spare them as a father spares a son who serves him.
18Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
18Then once again you will see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not."
4The Burning Day and Elijah's Coming
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
1"Look, the day is coming that will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and everyone who does evil will be like straw, and the day that is coming will set them on fire," says the LORD of hosts, "leaving them neither root nor branch.
2But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
2But for you who fear my name, the Sun of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings, and you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves let out of the stall.
3And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
3You will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I do this," says the LORD of hosts.
4Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
4"Remember the law of my servant Moses, the rules and decisions I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.
5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
5Look, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.
6And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
6He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the hearts of the children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse."