“1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. 2 I have
loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? [Was]
not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, 3 And I
hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the
dragons of the wilderness. 4 Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished,
but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of
hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call
them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD
hath indignation for ever. 5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say,
The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.”
“6 A son honoureth [his] father, and a servant his master: if then I
[be] a father, where [is] mine honour? and if I [be] a master, where
[is] my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise
my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 7 Ye offer
polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted
thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD [is] contemptible. 8 And if
ye offer the blind for sacrifice, [is it] not evil? and if ye offer the
lame and sick, [is it] not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he
be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. 9
And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this
hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of
hosts. 10 Who [is there] even among you that would shut the doors [for
nought]? neither do ye kindle [fire] on mine altar for nought. I have no
pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an
offering at your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the
going down of the same my name [shall be] great among the Gentiles; and
in every place incense [shall be] offered unto my name, and a pure
offering: for my name [shall be] great among the heathen, saith the LORD
of hosts. 12 But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the
LORD [is] polluted; and the fruit thereof, [even] his meat, [is]
contemptible. 13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness [is it]! and ye
have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought [that which
was] torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering:
should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD. 14 But cursed [be]
the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and
sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I [am] a great King,
saith the LORD of hosts, and my name [is] dreadful among the heathen.”
(Malachi 1:1-14 AV)