“The descendants of Esau may say, ‘We have been beaten down, but we will rebuild the ruins.’ “Yet, this is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: They may rebuild, but I will tear it down. They will be called ‘the Wicked Land’ and ‘the people with whom Yahweh is always angry.’

The Priests Offer Unacceptable Sacrifices to the Lord

“This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: A son honors his father, and a servant honors his master. So if I am a father, where is my honor? If I am a master, where is my respect? You priests despise my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised your name?’

When you bring a blind animal to sacrifice, isn’t that wrong? When you bring a lame or a sick animal, isn’t that wrong? Try offering it to your governor. Would he accept it from you? Would he welcome you?” asks Yahweh Tsebaoth.

“Now try asking El to be kind to you. This is what you are doing! Will he welcome you?” asks Yahweh Tsebaoth.

“I wish one of you would shut the doors to my house so that you could not light fires on my altar for no reason. I’m not pleased with you,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth, “and I won’t accept your offerings.

“From the nations where the sun rises to the nations where the sun sets, my name will be great. Incense and pure offerings will be offered everywhere in my name, because my name will be great among the nations,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth.

“You say, ‘Oh what a nuisance it is,’ and you sniff at it in disgust,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth. “You bring stolen, lame, and sick animals. When you bring such offerings, should I accept them from you?” asks Yahweh.

“Cheaters are under a curse. They have male animals in their flocks that they vow to give as a sacrifice. But they sacrifice second-rate ones to Adonay instead. I am a great Melek,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth. “Among the nations my name is respected.

If you won’t listen and if you won’t consider giving honor to my name,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth, “then I’ll send a curse on you, and I’ll curse the blessings you give. Yes, I’ve already cursed them because you don’t carefully consider this.

Then you will know that I sent you this warning so that my promise to Levi will continue,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth.

“A priest’s lips should preserve knowledge. Then, because he is the messenger for Yahweh Tsebaoth, people will seek instruction from his mouth.

“But you have turned from the correct path and caused many to stumble over my teachings. You have corrupted the promise made to Levi,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth.

May Yahweh exclude anyone who does this, whoever he may be. May he exclude them from Jacob’s tents and from bringing offerings to Yahweh Tsebaoth.

“I hate divorce,” says Yahweh Elohim of Israel. “I hate the person who covers himself with violence,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth. “Be careful not to be unfaithful.”

The Coming of the Messenger of the Promise

“I’m going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way ahead of me. Then the Adonay you are looking for will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the promise will come. He is the one you want,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth.

“I will come to judge you. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers, lying witnesses, and those who cheat workers out of their wages and oppress widows and orphans. I will also testify against those who deprive foreigners of their rights. None of them fear me,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth.

Since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my laws and have not followed them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth. “But you ask, ‘How can we return?’

“Bring one-tenth of your income into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth. “See if I won’t open the windows of heaven for you and flood you with blessings.

Then, for your sake, I will stop insects from eating your crops. They will not destroy the produce of your land. The vines in your fields will not lose their unripened grapes,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth.

“All nations will call you blessed because you will be a delightful land,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth.

“They will be mine,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth. “On that day I will make them my special possession. I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.

The Day of the Lord Brings Judgment

“Certainly the day is coming! It will burn like a furnace. All arrogant people and all evildoers will be like straw. The day that is coming will burn them up completely,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth. “It won’t leave a single root or branch.

You will trample on wicked people, because on the day I act they will be ashes under the soles of your feet,” says Yahweh Tsebaoth.