11 For (A)from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,
My name shall be great (B)among the Gentiles;
(C)In every place (D)incense shall be offered to My name,
And a pure offering;
(E)For My name shall be great among the nations,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

12 “But you profane it,
In that you say,
(F)‘The table of the [a]Lord is defiled;
And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.’
13 You also say,
‘Oh, what a (G)weariness!’
And you sneer at it,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick;
Thus you bring an offering!
(H)Should I accept this from your hand?”
Says the Lord.
14 “But cursed be (I)the deceiver
Who has in his flock a male,
And takes a vow,
But sacrifices to the Lord (J)what is blemished—
For (K)I am a great King,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“And My name is to be feared among the nations.

Corrupt Priests

“And now, O (L)priests, this commandment is for you.
(M)If you will not hear,
And if you will not take it to heart,
To give glory to My name,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“I will send a curse upon you,
And I will curse your blessings.
Yes, I have cursed them (N)already,
Because you do not take it to heart.

“Behold, I will rebuke your descendants
And spread (O)refuse on your faces,
The refuse of your solemn feasts;
And one will (P)take you away [b]with it.
Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you,
That My covenant with Levi may continue,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“My(Q) covenant was with him, one of life and peace,
And I gave them to him (R)that he might fear Me;
So he feared Me
And was reverent before My name.
(S)The[c] law of truth was in his mouth,
And [d]injustice was not found on his lips.
He walked with Me in peace and equity,
And (T)turned many away from iniquity.

“For(U) the lips of a priest should keep knowledge,
And people should seek the law from his mouth;
(V)For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

Footnotes

  1. Malachi 1:12 So with Bg.; MT Lord
  2. Malachi 2:3 Lit. to it
  3. Malachi 2:6 Or True instruction
  4. Malachi 2:6 Or unrighteousness

11 My name will be great(A) among the nations,(B) from where the sun rises to where it sets.(C) In every place incense(D) and pure offerings(E) will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.

12 “But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table(F) is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food(G) is contemptible.’ 13 And you say, ‘What a burden!’(H) and you sniff at it contemptuously,(I)” says the Lord Almighty.

“When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices,(J) should I accept them from your hands?”(K) says the Lord. 14 “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal(L) to the Lord. For I am a great king,(M)” says the Lord Almighty,(N) “and my name is to be feared(O) among the nations.(P)

Additional Warning to the Priests

“And now, you priests, this warning is for you.(Q) If you do not listen,(R) and if you do not resolve to honor(S) my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse(T) on you, and I will curse your blessings.(U) Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.

“Because of you I will rebuke your descendants[a]; I will smear on your faces the dung(V) from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it.(W) And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi(X) may continue,” says the Lord Almighty. “My covenant was with him, a covenant(Y) of life and peace,(Z) and I gave them to him; this called for reverence(AA) and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction(AB) was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked(AC) with me in peace(AD) and uprightness,(AE) and turned many from sin.(AF)

“For the lips of a priest(AG) ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger(AH) of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.(AI)

Footnotes

  1. Malachi 2:3 Or will blight your grain