¹⁷ “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my^(A) treasured possession.^(B) I will spare^(C) them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son^(D) who serves him.

⁵ Now if you obey me fully^(A) and keep my covenant,^(B) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.^(C) Although the whole earth^(D) is mine,

⁶ For you are a people holy^(A) to the Lord your God.^(B) The Lord your God has chosen^(C) you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.^(D)

¹⁸ And,

³⁸ They will be my people,^(A) and I will be their God. ³⁹ I will give them singleness^(B) of heart and action, so that they will always fear^(C) me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them.

¹⁷ You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him.^{(A) 18} And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession^(B) as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands.

⁹ But you are a chosen people,^(A) a royal priesthood,^(B) a holy nation,^(C) God’s special possession,^(D) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.^(E)

Breaking Covenant Through Blemished Sacrifices

⁶ “A son honors his father,^(A) and a slave his master.^(B) If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect^(C) due me?” says the Lord Almighty.^(D)

“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.

“But you ask,^(E) ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’