11-12 Judah has cheated on God—a sickening violation of trust in Israel and Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the holiness of God by falling in love and running off with foreign women, women who worship alien gods. God’s curse on those who do this! Drive them out of house and home! They’re no longer fit to be part of the community no matter how many offerings they bring to God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

13-15 And here’s a second offense: You fill the place of worship with your whining and sniveling because you don’t get what you want from God. Do you know why? Simple. Because God was there as a witness when you spoke your marriage vows to your young bride, and now you’ve broken those vows, broken the faith-bond with your vowed companion, your covenant wife. God, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. And what does he want from marriage? Children of God, that’s what. So guard the spirit of marriage within you. Don’t cheat on your spouse.

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11 Judah has been unfaithful. A detestable(A) thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves(B) by marrying(C) women who worship a foreign god.(D) 12 As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the Lord remove(E) him from the tents of Jacob[a](F)—even though he brings an offering(G) to the Lord Almighty.

13 Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s altar with tears.(H) You weep and wail(I) because he no longer looks with favor(J) on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. Malachi 2:12 Or 12 May the Lord remove from the tents of Jacob anyone who gives testimony in behalf of the man who does this