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Malachi 2:16-17
New King James Version
Malachi 2:16-17
New King James Version
16 “For (A)the Lord God of Israel says
That He hates divorce,
For it covers one’s garment with violence,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“Therefore take heed to your spirit,
That you do not deal treacherously.”
17 (B)You have wearied the Lord with your words;
Yet you say,
“In what way have we wearied Him?”
In that you say,
(C)“Everyone who does evil
Is good in the sight of the Lord,
And He delights in them,”
Or, “Where is the God of justice?”
Malachi 2:16-17
King James Version
Malachi 2:16-17
King James Version
16 For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
17 Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
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Malachi 2:16-17
New International Version
Malachi 2:16-17
New International Version
16 “The man who hates and divorces his wife,(A)” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,”[a](B) says the Lord Almighty.
So be on your guard,(C) and do not be unfaithful.
Breaking Covenant Through Injustice
17 You have wearied(D) the Lord with your words.
“How have we wearied him?” you ask.(E)
By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased(F) with them” or “Where is the God of justice?(G)”
Footnotes
- Malachi 2:16 Or “I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “because the man who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,”
Malachi 2:16-17
English Standard Version
Malachi 2:16-17
English Standard Version
16 “For (A)the man who does not love his wife but divorces her,[a] says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers[b] his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and (B)do not be faithless.”
The Messenger of the Lord
17 (C)You have wearied the Lord with your words. (D)But you say, “How have we wearied him?” (E)By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, (F)“Where is the God of justice?”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Malachi 2:16 Hebrew who hates and divorces
- Malachi 2:16 Probable meaning (compare Septuagint and Deuteronomy 24:1–4); or “The Lord, the God of Israel, says that he hates divorce, and him who covers
Malachi 2:16-17
New American Standard Bible
Malachi 2:16-17
New American Standard Bible
16 “For [a]I hate [b](A)divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “and [c]him who covers his garment with (B)violence,” says the Lord of armies. “So be careful about your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”
17 You have (C)wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, “How have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “(D)Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He (E)delights in them,” or, “(F)Where is the God of (G)justice?”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Malachi 2:16 Lit He hates
- Malachi 2:16 Lit sending away
- Malachi 2:16 Lit he covers
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.