Malachi 2:13-16
Holman Christian Standard Bible
13 And this is another thing you do: you cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning,(A) because He no longer respects your offerings or receives them gladly from your hands.(B)
14 Yet you ask, “For what reason?” Because the Lord has been a witness(C) between you and the wife of your youth.(D) You have acted treacherously against her, though she was your marriage partner(E) and your wife by covenant.(F) 15 Didn’t the one God make us with a remnant of His life-breath? And what does the One seek?[a] A godly offspring. So watch yourselves carefully,[b](G) and do not act treacherously against the wife of your youth.
16 “If he hates(H) and divorces his wife,(I)” says the Lord God of Israel, “he[c] covers his garment with injustice,”(J) says the Lord of Hosts. Therefore, watch yourselves carefully,[d] and do not act treacherously.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Malachi 2:15 Or Did the One not make them? So their flesh and spirit belong to Him, or No one who does this even has a remnant of the Spirit in him; Hb obscure
- Malachi 2:15 Lit So guard yourselves in your spirit
- Malachi 2:16 Or The Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce and the one who
- Malachi 2:16 Lit Therefore, guard yourselves in your spirit
Malachi 2:13-16
Common English Bible
13 You should do this as well:
cover the altar of the Lord with tears, weeping, and groaning
because there is still no divine favor for your offering or favorable regard
for anything from your hand.
14 But you say, “Why?”
Because the Lord testifies about you
and the wife of your youth against whom you cheated.
She is your partner,
the wife of your covenant.
15 Didn’t he make her[a] the one[b]
and the remnant of his spirit?[c]
What is the one?
The one seeking godly offspring.
You should guard your own spirit.
Don’t cheat on the wife of your youth
16 because he hates divorce,
says the Lord God of Israel,
and he also hates the one covering his garment with violence,[d]
says the Lord of heavenly forces.
Guard your own life, and don’t cheat.
Footnotes
- Malachi 2:15 Heb lacks her.
- Malachi 2:15 Heb uncertain; her refers to the wife in Mal 2:14.
- Malachi 2:15 Heb uncertain
- Malachi 2:16 Heb uncertain
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