The Great Day of the Lord

[a] “For behold, (A)the day is coming, (B)burning like an oven, when (C)all the arrogant and (D)all evildoers (E)will be stubble. The day that is coming (F)shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you (G)who fear my name, (H)the sun (I)of righteousness shall rise (J)with healing in its wings. You shall go out (K)leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, (L)on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.

(M)“Remember (N)the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules[b] that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.

(O)“Behold, I will send you (P)Elijah the prophet (Q)before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will (R)turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and (S)strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”[c]

Footnotes

  1. Malachi 4:1 Ch 4:1–6 is ch 3:19–24 in Hebrew
  2. Malachi 4:4 Or and just decrees
  3. Malachi 4:6 The Hebrew term rendered decree of utter destruction refers to things devoted (or set apart) to the Lord (or by the Lord) for destruction

The Coming Day of Judgment

[a]The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all.

“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.[b] And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“Remember to obey the Law of Moses, my servant—all the decrees and regulations that I gave him on Mount Sinai[c] for all Israel.

“Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

Footnotes

  1. 4:1 Verses 4:1-6 are numbered 3:19-24 in Hebrew text.
  2. 4:2 Or the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.
  3. 4:4 Hebrew Horeb, another name for Sinai.