萬軍之耶和華說:「我要差遣我的使者為我開路。你們所尋求的主必突然來到祂的殿中。你們所期盼的那位立約的使者快要來了!」 然而,祂來臨的日子,誰能承受得了呢?祂出現的時候,誰能站立得住呢?因為祂像煉金之火,又像漂白衣裳的鹼。 祂要坐下來,像煉淨銀子的人那樣潔淨利未的子孫,像熬煉金銀一樣熬煉他們,使他們憑公義向耶和華獻祭。 這樣,猶大和耶路撒冷所獻的祭物就會蒙耶和華悅納,如同以往的日子、從前的歲月。

萬軍之耶和華說:「我要來到你們當中施行審判,速速作證指控那些行邪術的、通姦的、起假誓的、克扣工人薪水的、欺壓寡婦孤兒的、冤枉異鄉人的,以及不敬畏我的。

十分之一奉獻

「我耶和華永恆不變,所以你們這些雅各的子孫才沒有滅絕。」 萬軍之耶和華說:「從你們祖先開始,你們就常常偏離我的律例,不肯遵從。現在你們要轉向我,我就轉向你們。可是你們竟然說,『我們怎麼轉向你呢?』 人怎可搶奪上帝的東西呢?可是你們不但搶奪我的東西,還說,『我們在何事上搶過你的東西呢?』

「你們在十分之一的奉獻和其他供物上搶奪我的東西。 舉國上下都是如此,所以你們必受咒詛。」 10 萬軍之耶和華說:「你們要把當納的十分之一全部送到我的倉庫,使我的殿中有糧。你們這樣試試,看我會不會為你們打開天上的窗戶,把祝福傾倒給你們,直到無處可容。」 11 萬軍之耶和華說:「我必為你們驅除害蟲,不許牠們毀壞你們地裡的出產,你們田間的葡萄必不會未熟先落。」 12 萬軍之耶和華說:「萬國必稱你們為有福的,因為這地方必成為一片樂土。」

13 耶和華說:「你們出言譭謗我,還問,『我們怎麼譭謗你了?』 14 你們說,『事奉上帝是虛空的。遵從上帝的吩咐,在萬軍之耶和華面前痛悔有什麼益處? 15 如今我們稱狂傲的人有福,因為作惡的人凡事順利,他們雖然試探上帝,卻仍能逃過災禍。』」

16 那時,敬畏耶和華的彼此交談,耶和華必留心傾聽,祂面前的紀念冊上記錄著敬畏祂和尊崇祂名的人。 17 萬軍之耶和華說:「到我所定的日子,他們必成為我寶貴的產業,我要憐憫他們,如同父親憐憫他的孝順兒子。 18 那時,你們將再度看出義人與惡人之間的區別,事奉上帝者和不事奉上帝者之間的不同。

Behold, I send My [a]messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me. And the Lord [the Messiah], Whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; the [b]Messenger or Angel of the covenant, Whom you desire, behold, He shall come, says the Lord of hosts.(A)

But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap;(B)

He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the priests, the sons of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord offerings in righteousness.

Then will the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in ancient years.

Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against the false swearers, and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, and who turn aside the temporary resident from his right and fear not Me, says the Lord of hosts.

For I am the Lord, I do not change; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

Even from the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, How shall we return?

Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? [You have withheld your] tithes and offerings.

You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation.(C)

10 Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.(D)

11 And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts.

12 And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.

13 Your words have been strong and hard against Me, says the Lord. Yet you say, What have we spoken against You?

14 You have said, It is useless to serve God, and what profit is it if we keep His ordinances and walk gloomily and as if in mourning apparel before the Lord of hosts?

15 And now we consider the proud and arrogant to be happy and favored; evildoers are exalted and prosper; yes, and when they test God, they escape [unpunished].

16 Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name.

17 And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.

18 Then shall you return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who does not serve Him.

Footnotes

  1. Malachi 3:1 This is fulfilled in John the Baptist (Matt. 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 1:76).
  2. Malachi 3:1 The Messiah as God’s representative will confirm and establish the covenant (see Isa. 42:6).

Behold, 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.

But 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:

And 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.

Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

And 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.

For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Even 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?

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

10 Bring 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.

11 And 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.

12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.

13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

14 Ye 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?

15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

16 Then 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.

17 And 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.

18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.