“See, I am going to send my messenger,(A) and he will clear the way before me.(B) Then the Lord you seek(C) will suddenly come to his temple,(D) the Messenger of the covenant you delight in—see, he is coming,” says the Lord of Armies. But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will be able to stand when he appears?(E) For he will be like a refiner’s fire(F) and like launderer’s bleach.[a](G) He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver.(H) Then they will present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. And the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord as in days of old(I) and years gone by.

“I will come to you in judgment, and I will be ready to witness against sorcerers and adulterers; against those who swear falsely; against those who oppress the hired worker, the widow, and the fatherless; and against those who deny justice to the resident alien.(J) They do not fear me,”(K) says the Lord of Armies. “Because I, the Lord, have not changed,(L) you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.[b](M)

Robbing God

“Since the days of your ancestors, you have turned from my statutes; you have not kept them.(N) Return to me,(O) and I will return to you,”(P) says the Lord of Armies.

Yet you ask, “How can we return?”

“Will a man rob(Q) God? Yet you are robbing me!”

“How do we rob you?” you ask.

“By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions.(R) You are suffering under a curse, yet[c] you—the whole nation—are still robbing me. 10 Bring the full tenth into the storehouse(S) so that there may be food in my house.(T) Test me in this way,”(U) says the Lord of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven(V) and pour out a blessing for you without measure.(W) 11 I will rebuke the devourer[d](X) for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your land and your vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the Lord of Armies. 12 “Then all the nations will consider you fortunate, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of Armies.

The Righteous and the Wicked

13 “Your words against me are harsh,”(Y) says the Lord.

Yet you ask, “What have we spoken against you?”

14 You have said, “It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping his requirements(Z) and walking mournfully(AA) before the Lord of Armies? 15 So now we consider the arrogant(AB) to be fortunate.(AC) Not only do those who commit wickedness prosper, they even test God(AD) and escape.”(AE)

16 At that time those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. The Lord took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance(AF) was written before him for those who feared the Lord and had high regard for his name. 17 “They will be mine,” says the Lord of Armies,(AG) “my own possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.(AH) 18 So you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

The Day of the Lord

“For look, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and everyone who commits wickedness will become stubble. The coming day will consume them,” says the Lord of Armies, “not leaving them root or branches. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings,(AI) and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall.[e] You will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing,” says the Lord of Armies.

A Final Warning

“Remember the instruction of Moses my servant, the statutes and ordinances I commanded him at Horeb(AJ) for all Israel. Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah(AK) before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.(AL) And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers.(AM) Otherwise, I will come and strike the land[f] with a curse.”

Footnotes

  1. 3:2 Lit cleansing agent
  2. 3:6 Or Because I, the Lord, do not change, you descendants of Jacob are not destroyed
  3. 3:9 Or because
  4. 3:11 Perhaps locusts
  5. 4:2 Or like stall-fed calves
  6. 4:6 Or earth

“I will send my messenger,(A) who will prepare the way before me.(B) Then suddenly the Lord(C) you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant,(D) whom you desire,(E) will come,” says the Lord Almighty.

But who can endure(F) the day of his coming?(G) Who can stand(H) when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire(I) or a launderer’s soap.(J) He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver;(K) he will purify(L) the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.(M) Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,(N) and the offerings(O) of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.(P)

“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers,(Q) adulterers(R) and perjurers,(S) against those who defraud laborers of their wages,(T) who oppress the widows(U) and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners(V) among you of justice, but do not fear(W) me,” says the Lord Almighty.

Breaking Covenant by Withholding Tithes

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

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

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

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

“In tithes(AE) and offerings. You are under a curse(AF)—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe(AG) into the storehouse,(AH) 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(AI) of heaven and pour out(AJ) so much blessing(AK) that there will not be room enough to store it.(AL) 11 I will prevent pests from devouring(AM) your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,(AN)” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed,(AO) for yours will be a delightful land,”(AP) says the Lord Almighty.(AQ)

Israel Speaks Arrogantly Against God

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

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

14 “You have said, ‘It is futile(AT) to serve(AU) God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements(AV) and going about like mourners(AW) before the Lord Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant(AX) blessed. Certainly evildoers(AY) prosper,(AZ) 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.(BA) A scroll(BB) of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared(BC) the Lord and honored his name.

17 “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my(BD) treasured possession.(BE) I will spare(BF) them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son(BG) who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous(BH) and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.(BI)

Judgment and Covenant Renewal

[a]“Surely the day is coming;(BJ) it will burn like a furnace.(BK) All the arrogant(BL) and every evildoer will be stubble,(BM) and the day that is coming will set them on fire,(BN)” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch(BO) will be left to them. But for you who revere my name,(BP) the sun of righteousness(BQ) will rise with healing(BR) in its rays. And you will go out and frolic(BS) like well-fed calves. Then you will trample(BT) on the wicked; they will be ashes(BU) under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty.

“Remember the law(BV) of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb(BW) for all Israel.(BX)

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah(BY) to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.(BZ) He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children,(CA) and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike(CB) the land with total destruction.”(CC)

Footnotes

  1. Malachi 4:1 In Hebrew texts 4:1-6 is numbered 3:19-24.

The Source of Life

22 Then he showed me the river[a] of the water of life,(A) clear as crystal,(B) flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb(C) down the middle of the city’s main street. The tree of life was on each side of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month.(D) The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations,(E) and there will no longer be any curse.(F) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face,(G) and his name will be on their foreheads.(H) Night will be no more;(I) people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light,(J) and they will reign forever and ever.

The Time Is Near

Then he said to me, “These words are faithful[b] and true.(K) The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets,[c] has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”(L)

“Look, I am coming soon!(M) Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”(N)

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!” (O)

10 Then he said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near.(P) 11 Let the unrighteous go on in unrighteousness; let the filthy still be filthy; let the righteous go on in righteousness; let the holy still be holy.”(Q)

12 “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me(R) to repay each person according to his work.(S) 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, (T) the first and the last,(U) the beginning and the end.(V)

14 “Blessed (W) are those who wash their robes,[d] so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs, (X) the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.(Y)

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the Root(Z) and descendant of David,(AA) the bright morning star.”(AB)

17 Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.(AC)

18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. 19 And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, which are written about in this book.(AD)

20 He who testifies about these things(AE) says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!(AF)

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus[e] be with everyone.[f] Amen.[g]

Footnotes

  1. 22:1 Other mss read pure river
  2. 22:6 Or trustworthy
  3. 22:6 Other mss read God of the holy prophets
  4. 22:14 Other mss read who keep his commands
  5. 22:21 Other mss add Christ
  6. 22:21 Other mss read with all the saints
  7. 22:21 Other mss omit Amen.

Eden Restored

22 Then the angel showed me the river(A) of the water of life,(B) as clear as crystal,(C) flowing(D) from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life,(E) bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.(F) No longer will there be any curse.(G) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.(H) They will see his face,(I) and his name will be on their foreheads.(J) There will be no more night.(K) They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.(L) And they will reign for ever and ever.(M)

John and the Angel

The angel said to me,(N) “These words are trustworthy and true.(O) The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets,(P) sent his angel(Q) to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

“Look, I am coming soon!(R) Blessed(S) is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”(T)

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.(U) And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet(V) of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll.(W) Worship God!”(X)

10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up(Y) the words of the prophecy of this scroll,(Z) because the time is near.(AA) 11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”(AB)

Epilogue: Invitation and Warning

12 “Look, I am coming soon!(AC) My reward is with me,(AD) and I will give to each person according to what they have done.(AE) 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega,(AF) the First and the Last,(AG) the Beginning and the End.(AH)

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes,(AI) that they may have the right to the tree of life(AJ) and may go through the gates(AK) into the city.(AL) 15 Outside(AM) are the dogs,(AN) those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus,(AO) have sent my angel(AP) to give you[a] this testimony for the churches.(AQ) I am the Root(AR) and the Offspring of David,(AS) and the bright Morning Star.”(AT)

17 The Spirit(AU) and the bride(AV) say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.(AW)

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll:(AX) If anyone adds anything to them,(AY) God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.(AZ) 19 And if anyone takes words away(BA) from this scroll of prophecy,(BB) God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life(BC) and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

20 He who testifies to these things(BD) says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”(BE)

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.(BF)

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.(BG) Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 22:16 The Greek is plural.

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord

Hallelujah!
Praise God in his sanctuary.
Praise him in his mighty expanse.(A)
Praise him for his powerful acts;(B)
praise him for his abundant greatness.(C)

Praise him with the blast of a ram’s horn;(D)
praise him with harp and lyre.(E)
Praise him with tambourine and dance;(F)
praise him with strings and flute.(G)
Praise him with resounding cymbals;
praise him with clashing cymbals.(H)

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.(I)
Hallelujah!

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord.[a](A)

Praise God in his sanctuary;(B)
    praise him in his mighty heavens.(C)
Praise him for his acts of power;(D)
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.(E)
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,(F)
    praise him with the harp and lyre,(G)
praise him with timbrel and dancing,(H)
    praise him with the strings(I) and pipe,(J)
praise him with the clash of cymbals,(K)
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything(L) that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 150:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 6

29 “Many women[a] have done noble deeds,
but you surpass them all!” (A)
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,(B)
but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31 Give her the reward of her labor,[b]
and let her works praise her at the city gates.

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Footnotes

  1. 31:29 Lit daughters
  2. 31:31 Lit the fruit of her hands

29 “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise(A) at the city gate.

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