Polluted Offerings to God

The [a]burden of the word of the Lord to Israel [b]by Malachi.

Israel Beloved of God

“I(A) have loved you,” says the Lord.
“Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’
Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?”
Says the Lord.
“Yet (B)Jacob I have loved;
But Esau I have hated,
And (C)laid waste his mountains and his heritage
For the jackals of the wilderness.”

Even though Edom has said,
“We have been impoverished,
But we will return and build the desolate places,”

Thus says the Lord of hosts:

“They may build, but I will (D)throw down;
They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness,
And the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever.
Your eyes shall see,
And you shall say,
(E)‘The Lord is magnified beyond the border of Israel.’

Polluted Offerings

“A son (F)honors his father,
And a servant his master.
(G)If then I am the Father,
Where is My honor?
And if I am a Master,
Where is My reverence?
Says the Lord of hosts
To you priests who despise My name.
(H)Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’

“You offer (I)defiled food on My altar,
But say,
‘In what way have we defiled You?’
By saying,
(J)‘The table of the Lord is [c]contemptible.’
And (K)when you offer the blind as a sacrifice,
Is it not evil?
And when you offer the lame and sick,
Is it not evil?
Offer it then to your governor!
Would he be pleased with you?
Would he (L)accept[d] you favorably?”
Says the Lord of hosts.

“But now entreat God’s favor,
That He may be gracious to us.
(M)While this is being done by your hands,
Will He accept you favorably?”
Says the Lord of hosts.
10 “Who is there even among you who would shut the doors,
(N)So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain?
I have no pleasure in you,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
(O)“Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.
11 For (P)from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,
My name shall be great (Q)among the Gentiles;
(R)In every place (S)incense shall be offered to My name,
And a pure offering;
(T)For My name shall be great among the nations,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

12 “But you profane it,
In that you say,
(U)‘The table of the [e]Lord is defiled;
And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.’
13 You also say,
‘Oh, what a (V)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!
(W)Should I accept this from your hand?”
Says the Lord.
14 “But cursed be (X)the deceiver
Who has in his flock a male,
And takes a vow,
But sacrifices to the Lord (Y)what is blemished—
For (Z)I am a great King,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“And My name is to be feared among the nations.

Footnotes

  1. Malachi 1:1 oracle, prophecy
  2. Malachi 1:1 Lit. by the hand of
  3. Malachi 1:7 Or to be despised
  4. Malachi 1:8 Lit. lift up your face
  5. Malachi 1:12 So with Bg.; MT Lord

以下是耶和華藉瑪拉基對以色列人的宣告。

耶和華愛以色列

耶和華說:「我曾愛你們。」你們卻說:「你在何事上愛我們呢?」耶和華說:「以掃不是雅各的哥哥嗎?但我卻愛雅各, 厭惡以掃。我使以掃的山嶺荒涼,把他的地業留給曠野的豺狼。」 也許以掃的後代以東人會說:「我們現在雖然被毀,但我們要重建毀壞之處。」萬軍之耶和華卻這樣說:「他們儘管建造,但我必拆毀。他們的土地要被稱為『罪惡之地』,他們要被稱為『耶和華永遠惱怒之民。』」 以色列人啊,你們必親眼看見這事,也必說:「願耶和華在以色列境外受尊崇!」

斥責祭司

萬軍之耶和華對祭司說:「兒子應當尊敬父親,僕人應當敬畏主人。我是你們的父親,但你們對我的尊敬在哪裡呢?我是你們的主人,但你們對我的敬畏在哪裡呢?你們藐視我的名,卻狡辯說,『我們在何事上藐視過你的名呢?』 你們把污穢的食物獻在我的祭壇上,還說,『我們在何事上玷污了你呢?』你們說耶和華的桌子是可藐視的。 你們拿瞎眼、瘸腿和有病的牲畜來獻祭,難道這不是罪過嗎?你試試把這樣的東西送給你的省長,看他會不會悅納你、恩待你。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。」

現在,你們祈求上帝向我們施恩吧!然而,你們獻上這樣的祭物,祂怎會垂聽你們的祈求呢? 10 萬軍之耶和華說:「我真希望你們當中有人把殿門關上,免得你們在我祭壇上枉然點火。因為我不喜悅你們,也不接納你們的祭物。」 11 萬軍之耶和華說:「從日出之地到日落之處,列國必尊崇我的名。世上每個角落都有人向我焚香,獻上潔淨的供物。因為我的名必受列國尊崇。 12 可是,你們卻褻瀆我的名,竟然說我的桌子是污穢的,上面的祭物是可藐視的。 13 你們不屑地說,『哼!這些事真麻煩!』這是萬軍之耶和華說的。你們把搶來的、瘸腿的、有病的獻給我,我豈能接納呢?這是耶和華說的。 14 許願時說要獻上羊群中的公羊,後來卻拿傷殘的來獻給主,這種人該受咒詛!因為我是大君王,就是外族人也敬畏我的名。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。」