“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers,(A) adulterers(B) and perjurers,(C) against those who defraud laborers of their wages,(D) who oppress the widows(E) and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners(F) among you of justice, but do not fear(G) me,” says the Lord Almighty.

Breaking Covenant by Withholding Tithes

“I the Lord do not change.(H) So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.(I) Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away(J) from my decrees and have not kept them. Return(K) to me, and I will return to you,”(L) says the Lord Almighty.

“But you ask,(M) ‘How are we to return?’

“Will a mere mortal rob(N) God? Yet you rob me.

“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’

“In tithes(O) and offerings. You are under a curse(P)—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe(Q) into the storehouse,(R) that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates(S) of heaven and pour out(T) so much blessing(U) that there will not be room enough to store it.(V) 11 I will prevent pests from devouring(W) your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,(X)” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed,(Y) for yours will be a delightful land,”(Z) says the Lord Almighty.(AA)

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter