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Malachi 3
New English Translation

3 1 “I am about to send my messenger,[a] who will clear the way before me. Indeed, the Lord[b] you are seeking will suddenly come to his temple, and the messenger[c] of the covenant, whom you long for, is certainly coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

2 Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can keep standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire,[d] like a launderer’s soap. 3 He will act like a refiner and purifier of silver and will cleanse the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer the Lord a proper offering. 4 The offerings[e] of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in former times and years past.

5 “I[f] will come to you in judgment. I will be quick to testify against those who practice divination; those who commit adultery; those who break promises;[g] and those who exploit workers, widows, and orphans,[h] who refuse to help[i] the resident foreigner[j] and in this way show they do not fear me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Resistance to the Lord through Selfishness

6 “Since, I, the Lord, do not go back on my promises,[k] you, sons of Jacob, have not perished. 7 From the days of your ancestors you have ignored[l] my commandments[m] and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you say, ‘How should we return?’ 8 Can a person rob[n] God? You are indeed robbing me, but you say, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and contributions![o] 9 You are bound for judgment[p] because you are robbing me—this whole nation is guilty.[q]

10 “Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse[r] so that there may be food in my temple. Test me in this matter,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “to see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out blessing for you until there is no room for it all. 11 Then I will stop the plague[s] from ruining your crops,[t] and the vine will not lose its fruit before harvest,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 12 “All nations will call you blessed, for you indeed will live in[u] a delightful land,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Resistance to the Lord through Self-sufficiency

13 “You have criticized me sharply,”[v] says the Lord, “but you ask, ‘How have we criticized you?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped[w] by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord of Heaven’s Armies?[x] 15 So now we consider the arrogant to be blessed; indeed, those who practice evil are successful.[y] In fact, those who challenge[z] God escape!’”

16 Then those who respected[aa] the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord took notice.[ab] A scroll[ac] was prepared before him in which were recorded the names of those who respected the Lord and honored his name. 17 “They will belong to me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “in the day when I prepare my own special property.[ad] I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you will see that I make a distinction between[ae] the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not.

Footnotes

  1. Malachi 3:1 tn In Hebrew the phrase “my messenger” is מַלְאָכִי (malʾakhi), the same form as the prophet’s name (see note on the name “Malachi” in 1:1). However, here the messenger appears to be an eschatological figure who is about to appear, as the following context suggests. According to 4:5, this messenger is “Elijah the prophet,” whom the NT identifies as John the Baptist (Matt 11:10; Mark 1:2) because he came in the “spirit and power” of Elijah (Matt 11:14; 17:11-12; Lk 1:17).
  2. Malachi 3:1 tn Here the Hebrew term הָאָדוֹן (haʾadon) is used, not יְהוָה (yehvah, typically rendered Lord). Thus the focus is not on the Lord as the covenant God, but on his role as master.
  3. Malachi 3:1 sn This messenger of the covenant may be equated with my messenger (that is, Elijah) mentioned earlier in the verse, or with the Lord himself. In either case the messenger functions as an enforcer of the covenant. Note the following verses, which depict purifying judgment on a people that has violated the Lord’s covenant.
  4. Malachi 3:2 sn The refiner’s fire was used to purify metal and refine it by melting it and allowing the dross, which floated to the top, to be scooped off.
  5. Malachi 3:4 tn Or “gift.”
  6. Malachi 3:5 tn The first person pronoun (a reference to the Lord) indicates that the Lord himself now speaks (see also v. 1). The prophet speaks in vv. 2-4 (see also 2:17).
  7. Malachi 3:5 tn Heb “those who swear [oaths] falsely.” Cf. NIV “perjurers”; TEV “those who give false testimony”; NLT “liars.”
  8. Malachi 3:5 tn Heb “and against the oppressors of the worker for a wage, [the] widow and orphan.”
  9. Malachi 3:5 tn Heb “those who turn aside.”
  10. Malachi 3:5 sn Cf. Exod 22:21; Lev 19:33-34; Deut 10:18-19; 24:14, 17; 27:19; Jer 22:3; Zech 7:10.
  11. Malachi 3:6 tn Heb “do not change.” This refers to God’s ongoing commitment to his covenant promises to Israel.
  12. Malachi 3:7 tn Heb “turned aside from.”
  13. Malachi 3:7 tn Or “statutes” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV); NIV “decrees”; NLT “laws.”
  14. Malachi 3:8 tc The LXX presupposes an underlying Hebrew text of עָקַב (ʿaqav, “deceive”), a metathesis of קָבַע (qavaʿ, “rob”), in all four uses of the verb here (vv. 8-9). The intent probably is to soften the impact of “robbing” God, but the language of the passage is intentionally bold and there is no reason to go against the reading of the MT (which is followed here by most English versions).
  15. Malachi 3:8 sn The tithes and contributions mentioned here are probably those used to sustain the Levites (see Num 18:8, 11, 19, 21-24).
  16. Malachi 3:9 tn Heb “cursed with a curse” that is, “under a curse” (so NIV, NLT, CEV).
  17. Malachi 3:9 tn The phrase “is guilty” is not present in the Hebrew text but is implied, and has been supplied in the translation for clarification and stylistic reasons.
  18. Malachi 3:10 tn The Hebrew phrase בֵּית הָאוֹצָר (bet haʾotsar, here translated “storehouse”) refers to a kind of temple warehouse described more fully in Nehemiah (where the term לִשְׁכָּה גְדוֹלָה [lishkah gedolah, “great chamber”] is used) as a place for storing grain, frankincense, temple vessels, wine, and oil (Neh 13:5). Cf. TEV “to the Temple.”
  19. Malachi 3:11 tn Heb “the eater” (אֹכֵל, ʾokhel), a general term for any kind of threat to crops and livelihood. This is understood as a reference to a locust plague by a number of English versions: NAB, NRSV “the locust”; NIV “pests”; NCV, TEV “insects.”
  20. Malachi 3:11 tn Heb “and I will rebuke for you the eater and it will not ruin for you the fruit of the ground.”
  21. Malachi 3:12 tn Heb “will be” (so NAB, NRSV); TEV “your land will be a good place to live in.”
  22. Malachi 3:13 tn Heb “your words are hard [or “strong”] against me”; cf. NIV “said harsh things against me”; TEV, NLT “said terrible things about me.”
  23. Malachi 3:14 tn Heb “What [is the] profit”; NIV “What did we gain.”
  24. Malachi 3:14 sn The people’s public display of self-effacing piety has gone unrewarded by the Lord. The reason, of course, is that it was blatantly hypocritical.
  25. Malachi 3:15 tn Heb “built up” (so NASB); NIV, NRSV “prosper”; NLT “get rich.”
  26. Malachi 3:15 tn Or “test”; NRSV, CEV “put God to the test.”
  27. Malachi 3:16 tn Or “fear” (so NAB); NRSV “revered”; NCV “honored.”
  28. Malachi 3:16 tn Heb “heard and listened”; NAB “listened attentively.”
  29. Malachi 3:16 sn The scroll mentioned here is a “memory book” (סֵפֶר זִכָּרוֹן, sefer zikkaron) in which the Lord keeps an ongoing record of the names of all the redeemed (see Exod 32:32; Isa 4:3; Dan 12:1; Rev 20:12-15).
  30. Malachi 3:17 sn The Hebrew word סְגֻלָּה (segullah, “special property”) is a technical term referring to all the recipients of God’s redemptive grace, especially Israel (Exod 19:5; Deut 7:6; 14:2; 26:18). The Lord says here that he will not forget even one individual in the day of judgment and reward.
  31. Malachi 3:18 tn Heb “you will see between.” Cf. NRSV, TEV, NLT “see the difference.”
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瑪 拉 基 書 3
Chinese Union Version (Simplified)

3 万 军 之 耶 和 华 说 ： 我 要 差 遣 我 的 使 者 在 我 前 面 预 备 道 路 。 你 们 所 寻 求 的 主 必 忽 然 进 入 他 的 殿 ； 立 约 的 使 者 ， 就 是 你 们 所 仰 慕 的 ， 快 要 来 到 。

2 他 来 的 日 子 ， 谁 能 当 得 起 呢 ？ 他 显 现 的 时 候 ， 谁 能 立 得 住 呢 ？ 因 为 他 如 炼 金 之 人 的 火 ， 如 漂 布 之 人 的 硷 。

3 他 必 坐 下 如 炼 净 银 子 的 ， 必 洁 净 利 未 人 ， 熬 炼 他 们 像 金 银 一 样 ； 他 们 就 凭 公 义 献 供 物 给 耶 和 华 。

4 那 时 ， 犹 大 和 耶 路 撒 冷 所 献 的 供 物 必 蒙 耶 和 华 悦 纳 ， 彷 佛 古 时 之 日 、 上 古 之 年 。

5 万 军 之 耶 和 华 说 ： 我 必 临 近 你 们 ， 施 行 审 判 。 我 必 速 速 作 见 证 ， 警 戒 行 邪 术 的 、 犯 奸 淫 的 、 起 假 誓 的 、 亏 负 人 之 工 价 的 、 欺 压 寡 妇 孤 儿 的 、 屈 枉 寄 居 的 ， 和 不 敬 畏 我 的 。

6 因 我 ─ 耶 和 华 是 不 改 变 的 ， 所 以 你 们 雅 各 之 子 没 有 灭 亡 。

7 万 军 之 耶 和 华 说 ： 从 你 们 列 祖 的 日 子 以 来 ， 你 们 常 常 偏 离 我 的 典 章 而 不 遵 守 。 现 在 你 们 要 转 向 我 ， 我 就 转 向 你 们 。 你 们 却 问 说 ： 我 们 如 何 才 是 转 向 呢 ？

8 人 岂 可 夺 取 神 之 物 呢 ？ 你 们 竟 夺 取 我 的 供 物 。 你 们 却 说 ： 我 们 在 何 事 上 夺 取 你 的 供 物 呢 ？ 就 是 你 们 在 当 纳 的 十 分 之 一 和 当 献 的 供 物 上 。

9 因 你 们 通 国 的 人 都 夺 取 我 的 供 物 ， 咒 诅 就 临 到 你 们 身 上 。

10 万 军 之 耶 和 华 说 ： 你 们 要 将 当 纳 的 十 分 之 一 全 然 送 入 仓 库 ， 使 我 家 有 粮 ， 以 此 试 试 我 ， 是 否 为 你 们 敞 开 天 上 的 窗 户 ， 倾 福 与 你 们 ， 甚 至 无 处 可 容 。

11 万 军 之 耶 和 华 说 ： 我 必 为 你 们 斥 责 蝗 虫 （ 原 文 是 吞 噬 者 ） ， 不 容 他 毁 坏 你 们 的 土 产 。 你 们 田 间 的 葡 萄 树 在 未 熟 之 先 也 不 掉 果 子 。

12 万 军 之 耶 和 华 说 ： 万 国 必 称 你 们 为 有 福 的 ， 因 你 们 的 地 必 成 为 喜 乐 之 地 。

13 耶 和 华 说 ： 你 们 用 话 顶 撞 我 ， 你 们 还 说 ： 我 们 用 甚 麽 话 顶 撞 了 你 呢 ？

14 你 们 说 ： 事 奉 神 是 徒 然 的 ， 遵 守 神 所 吩 咐 的 ， 在 万 军 之 耶 和 华 面 前 苦 苦 斋 戒 ， 有 甚 麽 益 处 呢 ？

15 如 今 我 们 称 狂 傲 的 人 为 有 福 ， 并 且 行 恶 的 人 得 建 立 ； 他 们 虽 然 试 探 神 ， 却 得 脱 离 灾 难 。

16 那 时 ， 敬 畏 耶 和 华 的 彼 此 谈 论 ， 耶 和 华 侧 耳 而 听 ， 且 有 纪 念 册 在 他 面 前 ， 记 录 那 敬 畏 耶 和 华 、 思 念 他 名 的 人 。

17 万 军 之 耶 和 华 说 ： 在 我 所 定 的 日 子 ， 他 们 必 属 我 ， 特 特 归 我 。 我 必 怜 恤 他 们 ， 如 同 人 怜 恤 服 事 自 己 的 儿 子 。

18 那 时 你 们 必 归 回 ， 将 善 人 和 恶 人 ， 事 奉 神 的 和 不 事 奉 神 的 ， 分 别 出 来 。

Listen to Malachi 3
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Malachi 3
King James Version

3 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.

6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.

13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?

15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Listen to Malaquías 3
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Malaquías 3
Nueva Versión Internacional

3 «Yo estoy por enviar a mi mensajero para que prepare el camino delante de mí. De pronto vendrá a su Templo el Señor a quien ustedes buscan; vendrá el mensajero del pacto, a quien ustedes desean» —dice el Señor de los Ejércitos.

2 Pero ¿quién podrá soportar el día de su venida? ¿Quién podrá mantenerse en pie cuando él aparezca? Porque será como fuego de fundidor o jabón de lavandero. 3 Se sentará como fundidor y purificador de plata; purificará a los levitas y los refinará como se refinan el oro y la plata. Entonces traerán al Señor ofrendas conforme a la justicia, 4 y las ofrendas de Judá y Jerusalén serán aceptables al Señor, como en tiempos antiguos, como en años pasados.

5 «De modo que me acercaré a ustedes para juicio. Estaré presto a testificar contra los hechiceros, los adúlteros y los perjuros, contra los que explotan a sus jornaleros; contra los que oprimen a las viudas, a los huérfanos y niegan el derecho del extranjero, sin mostrarme ningún temor —dice el Señor de los Ejércitos—.

Fidelidad en las ofrendas

6 »Yo, el Señor, no cambio. Por eso ustedes, descendientes de Jacob, no han sido exterminados. 7 Desde la época de sus antepasados se han apartado de mis estatutos y no los han guardado. Vuélvanse a mí y yo me volveré a ustedes —dice el Señor de los Ejércitos—.

»Pero ustedes preguntan: “¿En qué sentido tenemos que volvernos?”.

8 »¿Acaso roba el ser humano a Dios? ¡Ustedes me están robando!

»Y todavía preguntan: “¿En qué te robamos?”.

»En los diezmos y en las ofrendas. 9 Ustedes —la nación entera—, están bajo gran maldición, pues es a mí a quien están robando.

10 »Traigan íntegro el diezmo a la tesorería del Templo; así habrá alimento en mi casa. Pruébenme en esto —dice el Señor de los Ejércitos—, y vean si no abro las compuertas del cielo y derramo sobre ustedes bendición hasta que sobreabunde. 11 Reprenderé al devorador para que no arruine sus cultivos y las vides en los campos no pierdan su fruto —dice el Señor de los Ejércitos—. 12 Entonces todas las naciones los llamarán dichosos, porque ustedes tendrán una tierra maravillosa —dice el Señor de los Ejércitos—.

Insolencia de Judá

13 »Ustedes profieren insolencias contra mí —dice el Señor—.

»Y encima preguntan: “¿Qué hemos dicho contra ti?”.

14 »Ustedes han dicho: “Servir a Dios no vale la pena. ¿Qué ganamos con cumplir sus órdenes y vestirnos de luto delante del Señor de los Ejércitos? 15 Por eso llamamos dichosos a los soberbios, pues prosperan los que hacen lo malo e incluso cuando desafían a Dios escapan ilesos”».

16 Los que temían al Señor hablaron entre sí, entonces él los escuchó y les prestó atención. Entonces se escribió en su presencia un libro de memorias de aquellos que temen al Señor y honran su nombre. 17 «El día que yo actúe ellos serán mi propiedad exclusiva —dice el Señor de los Ejércitos—. Tendré compasión de ellos, como se compadece un hombre del hijo que le sirve. 18 Y ustedes volverán a distinguir entre el justo y el malvado, entre el que sirve a Dios y el que no le sirve.

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