⁷ Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away^(A) from my decrees and have not kept them. Return^(B) to me, and I will return to you,”^(C) says the Lord Almighty.

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

⁸ “Will a mere mortal rob^(E) God? Yet you rob me.

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

“In tithes^(F) and offerings. ⁹ You are under a curse^(G)—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. ¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe^(H) into the storehouse,^(I) 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^(J) of heaven and pour out^(K) so much blessing^(L) that there will not be room enough to store it.^{(M) 11} I will prevent pests from devouring^(N) your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,^(O)” says the Lord Almighty. ¹² “Then all the nations will call you blessed,^(P) for yours will be a delightful land,”^(Q) says the Lord Almighty.^(R)

Israel Speaks Arrogantly Against God

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

“Yet you ask,^(T) ‘What have we said against you?’

¹⁴ “You have said, ‘It is futile^(U) to serve^(V) God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements^(W) and going about like mourners^(X) before the Lord Almighty? ¹⁵ But now we call the arrogant^(Y) blessed. Certainly evildoers^(Z) prosper,^(AA) and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’”

The Faithful Remnant

¹⁶ Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard.^(AB) A scroll^(AC) of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared^(AD) the Lord and honored his name.

¹⁷ “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my^(AE) treasured possession.^(AF) I will spare^(AG) them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son^(AH) who serves him. ¹⁸ And you will again see the distinction between the righteous^(AI) and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.^(AJ)