Add parallel Print Page Options

Unworthy Sacrifices

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name!

“But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’

Read full chapter

Breaking Covenant Through Blemished Sacrifices

“A son honors his father,(A) and a slave his master.(B) If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect(C) due me?” says the Lord Almighty.(D)

“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.

“But you ask,(E) ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’

Read full chapter

Building on a Solid Foundation

46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?

Read full chapter

The Wise and Foolish Builders(A)

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’(B) and do not do what I say?(C)

Read full chapter

A Message for Rebellious Judah

Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth!
    This is what the Lord says:
“The children I raised and cared for
    have rebelled against me.

Read full chapter

A Rebellious Nation

Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!(A)
    For the Lord has spoken:(B)
“I reared children(C) and brought them up,
    but they have rebelled(D) against me.

Read full chapter

12 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Read full chapter

12 “Honor your father and your mother,(A) so that you may live long(B) in the land(C) the Lord your God is giving you.

Read full chapter

13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

Read full chapter

13 “You call me ‘Teacher’(A) and ‘Lord,’(B) and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.(C) 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.(D) 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master,(E) nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.(F)

Read full chapter

17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers.[a] Fear God, and respect the king.

Slaves

18 You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect.[b] Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. 19 For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2:17 Greek love the brotherhood.
  2. 2:18 Or because you fear God; Greek reads in all fear.

17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,(A) fear God, honor the emperor.(B)

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,(C) not only to those who are good and considerate,(D) but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.(E)

Read full chapter

17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.”

Read full chapter

17 Since you call on a Father(A) who judges each person’s work(B) impartially,(C) live out your time as foreigners(D) here in reverent fear.(E)

Read full chapter

13 “You have said terrible things about me,” says the Lord.

“But you say, ‘What do you mean? What have we said against you?’

14 “You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins?

Read full chapter

Israel Speaks Arrogantly Against God

13 “You have spoken arrogantly(A) against me,” says the Lord.

“Yet you ask,(B) ‘What have we said against you?’

14 “You have said, ‘It is futile(C) to serve(D) God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements(E) and going about like mourners(F) before the Lord Almighty?

Read full chapter

Israel boasts, “I am rich!
    I’ve made a fortune all by myself!
No one has caught me cheating!
    My record is spotless!”

Read full chapter

Ephraim boasts,(A)
    “I am very rich; I have become wealthy.(B)
With all my wealth they will not find in me
    any iniquity or sin.”

Read full chapter

And yet, O Lord, you are our Father.
    We are the clay, and you are the potter.
    We all are formed by your hand.

Read full chapter

Yet you, Lord, are our Father.(A)
    We are the clay, you are the potter;(B)
    we are all the work of your hand.(C)

Read full chapter

Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back 10 or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.

Read full chapter

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything,(A) to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior(B) attractive.(C)

Read full chapter

“Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise:

Read full chapter

“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—

Read full chapter

14 You cry out, “Why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows.

15 Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his.[a] And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. 16 “For I hate divorce!”[b] says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,[c]” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”

17 You have wearied the Lord with your words.

“How have we wearied him?” you ask.

You have wearied him by saying that all who do evil are good in the Lord’s sight, and he is pleased with them. You have wearied him by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2:15 Or Didn’t the one Lord make us and preserve our life and breath? or Didn’t the one Lord make her, both flesh and spirit? The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  2. 2:16a Hebrew For he hates divorcing.
  3. 2:16b Hebrew to cover one’s garment with violence.

14 You ask,(A) “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness(B) between you and the wife of your youth.(C) You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.(D)

15 Has not the one God made you?(E) You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring.[a](F) So be on your guard,(G) and do not be unfaithful(H) to the wife of your youth.

16 “The man who hates and divorces his wife,(I)” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,”[b](J) says the Lord Almighty.

So be on your guard,(K) and do not be unfaithful.

Breaking Covenant Through Injustice

17 You have wearied(L) the Lord with your words.

“How have we wearied him?” you ask.(M)

By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased(N) with them” or “Where is the God of justice?(O)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Malachi 2:15 The meaning of the Hebrew for the first part of this verse is uncertain.
  2. Malachi 2:16 Or “I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “because the man who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,”