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The Priests Defile Yahweh

“‘A son (A)honors his father, and a slave his master. Then if I am a (B)father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is the fear of Me?’ says Yahweh of hosts to you, O (C)priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’ You are presenting (D)defiled [a](E)food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The (F)table of Yahweh is to be despised.’ But when you present the (G)blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Please, bring it near to your (H)governor! Would he accept you? Or would he lift up your face?” says Yahweh of hosts. “But now, [b](I)entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us! With this thing which is from your hand, will He (J)lift up any of your faces?” says Yahweh of hosts. 10 “Oh that there were one among you who would (K)shut the [c]gates, that you might not light a fire on My altar in vain! I have no delight in you,” says Yahweh of hosts, “(L)nor will I accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the (M)rising of the sun even to its setting, (N)My name will be (O)great among the nations, and in every place (P)incense is going to be presented to My name, as well as a grain offering that is clean; for My name will be (Q)great among the nations,” says Yahweh of hosts. 12 “But you are (R)profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’ 13 You also say, ‘Behold, how (S)tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by (T)robbery and what is (U)lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I (V)accept that from your hand?” says Yahweh. 14 “But cursed be the (W)swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a [d](X)blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great (Y)King,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and My name is [e](Z)feared among the [f]nations.”

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Footnotes

  1. Malachi 1:7 Lit bread
  2. Malachi 1:9 Lit soften the face of
  3. Malachi 1:10 Or doors
  4. Malachi 1:14 Or ruined
  5. Malachi 1:14 Or reverenced
  6. Malachi 1:14 Or Gentiles

Disobedience of the Priests

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of me?(A) says the Lord of Armies to you priests, who despise my name.”

Yet you ask, “How have we despised your name?”

“By presenting defiled food on my altar.”

“How have we defiled you?” you ask.(B)

When you say, “The Lord’s table is contemptible.”(C)

“When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong?(D) Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the Lord of Armies. “And now plead for God’s favor. Will he be gracious to us?(E) Since this has come from your hands, will he show any of you favor?” (F) asks the Lord of Armies. 10 “I wish one of you would shut the temple doors,(G) so that you would no longer kindle a useless fire on my altar!(H) I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Armies, “and I will accept(I) no offering from your hands.(J)

11 “My name will be great among the nations,(K) from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense[a] and pure offerings will be presented in my name in every place because my name will be great among the nations,”[b] says the Lord of Armies.

12 “But you are profaning it(L) when you say, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled, and its product, its food, is contemptible.’ 13 You also say, ‘Look, what a nuisance!’ And you scorn[c] it,”[d](M) says the Lord of Armies. “You bring stolen,[e](N) lame, or sick animals. You bring this as an offering! Am I to accept that from your hands?” asks the Lord.

14 “The deceiver is cursed who has an acceptable male in his flock and makes a vow but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord.(O) For I am a great King,” says the Lord of Armies, “and my name will be feared among the nations.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:11 Or Burnt offerings
  2. 1:11 Or is great... are presented... is great
  3. 1:13 Lit blow at
  4. 1:13 Alt Hb tradition reads me
  5. 1:13 Or injured