Malachi 1:6-14
New American Standard Bible
Sin of the Priests
6 “‘A son (A)honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a (B)father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My [a]respect?’ says the Lord of armies to you, the (C)priests who despise My name! But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’ 7 You are presenting (D)defiled [b](E)food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The (F)table of the Lord is to be despised.’ 8 And when you present a (G)blind animal for sacrifice, is it not evil? Or when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not evil? So offer it to your (H)governor! Would he be pleased with you, or would he receive you kindly?” says the Lord of armies. 9 “But now, do indeed (I)plead for God’s favor, so that He will be gracious to us. [c]With such an offering on your part, will He (J)receive any of you kindly?” says the Lord of armies. 10 “If only there were one among you who would (K)shut the [d]gates, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar for nothing! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of armies, “(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 shall be (O)great among the nations, and in every place (P)frankincense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name shall be (Q)great among the nations,” says the Lord of armies. 12 “But you are (R)profaning it by your saying, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’ 13 You also say, ‘See, [e]how (S)tiresome it is!’ And you view it as trivial,” says the Lord of armies, “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 it from your hand?” says the Lord. 14 “But cursed be the (W)swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a (X)blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great (Y)King,” says the Lord of armies, “and My name is [f](Z)feared among the [g]nations.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Malachi 1:6 Lit fear
- Malachi 1:7 Lit bread
- Malachi 1:9 Lit This has been from your hand
- Malachi 1:10 Or doors
- Malachi 1:13 Lit it is hardship
- Malachi 1:14 Or revered
- Malachi 1:14 Or Gentiles
Malachi 1:6-14
Common English Bible
Honoring the Lord
6 A son honors a father,
and a servant honors his master.
But if I’m a father, where is my honor?
Or if I’m a master, where is my respect?
says the Lord of heavenly forces
to you priests who despise my name.
So you say, “How have we despised your name?”
7 By approaching my altar with polluted food.
But you say, “How have we polluted it[a]?”
When you say, “The table of the Lord can be despised.”
8 If you bring a blind animal to sacrifice, isn’t that evil?
If you bring a lame or sick one, isn’t that evil?
Would you bring it to your governor?
Would he be pleased with it or accept you?
says the Lord of heavenly forces.
9 So now ask God to be gracious to us.
After what you have done, will he accept you?
says the Lord of heavenly forces.
10 Who among you will shut the doors of the temple[b]
so that you don’t burn something on my altar in vain?
I take no delight in you,
says the Lord of heavenly forces.
I won’t accept a grain offering from your hand.
11 Nevertheless, from sunrise to sunset,
my name will be great among the nations.
Incense and a pure grain offering will be offered everywhere in my name,
because my name is great among the nations,
says the Lord of heavenly forces.
12 But you make my name impure when you say,
“The table of the Lord is polluted.
Its fruit, its food, is despised.”
13 But you say, “How tedious!”
and you groan about it,
says the Lord of heavenly forces.
You permit what is stolen, lame, or sick to be brought for a sacrifice,[c]
and you bring the grain offering.
Should I accept such from your hands?
says the Lord.
14 I will curse the cheater who has a healthy[d] male in his flock,
but who promises and sacrifices to the Lord that which is corrupt.
I am truly a great king,
says the Lord of heavenly forces,
and my name is feared among the nations.
Footnotes
- Malachi 1:7 Gk; Heb you
- Malachi 1:10 Heb lacks of the temple.
- Malachi 1:13 Heb lacks for a sacrifice.
- Malachi 1:14 Heb lacks healthy.
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