1 THE vision of the words of the LORD concerning Israel by Malachi.

2 I have loved you, says the LORD. But you say, In what way hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? says the LORD; yet I have loved Jacob, and I have not favored Esau;

3 And I have made his mountains waste and his heritage for camps of shepherds in the wilderness.

4 And if the Edomites say, We are impoverished, but let us return and build the desolate places; thus says the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will demolish; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness and, The people against whom the LORD is angry for ever.

5 And your eyes shall see it, and you shall say, The LORD will be magnified beyond the border of Israel.

6 A son honors his father, and a servant his master; if then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. And if you say, In what have we despised thy name?

7 In that you offer polluted bread upon my altar; and if you say, In what have we polluted it? In that you say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

8 And when you offer a blind animal to the altar, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick animals, is it not evil? Offer it now to your governor; will he be pleased with you or accept your person? says the LORD of hosts.

9 And now, pray before the LORD that he may be gracious to us for this disaster has been brought by your means; I will not regard your persons, says the LORD of hosts.

10 Who is there among you who would guard my doors or offer on my altar for nothing? I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering from your hand.

11 For from the rising of the sun even to its going down, my name is great among the Gentiles; and in every place they burn incense and offer to my name pure offerings; for my name is great among the Gentiles, says the LORD of hosts.

12 But you are profaning it, in that you say, The table of the LORD is polluted and its food is contemptible.

13 And you say, This is because we are miserable; and I have sniffed at it, says the LORD of hosts; for you bring offerings that are taken by violence, the lame and the sick; I will not accept them from your hands, says the LORD.

14 Cursed be he who has in his flock a ram, and vows and sacrifices for the LORD that which is sick; for I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreaded among the Gentiles.