The LORD’s Love for Israel (Genesis 25:19–28; Romans 9:6–29)
1 UDB This is a message that Yahweh gave to Malachi for the Israelites. BSB BSB: This is the burden of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi:
2 UDB Yahweh says, "I have loved you." But I, Malachi, hear you people reply, "How have you shown us that you love us?" Yahweh replies, "Is it not true that Esau and Jacob were brothers? Yet I have a covenant with Jacob and his descendants, but I have no covenant with Esau and his descendants. I caused Esau's region to be abandoned, a place where wild dogs live." BSB BSB: “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved, 4 UDB The descendants of Esau who now live in Edom may say, "Yes, God has demolished our cities, but we will rebuild houses in the ruins." But Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, replies, "They may build houses again, but I will demolish them again. Their country will be called 'The land where wicked people live,' and their people will be called 'The people with whom Yahweh is angry forever.'" BSB BSB: Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever.
5 UDB When you Israelite people yourselves see what Yahweh will do to them, you will say, "It is evident that Yahweh is very powerful even in foreign lands!" BSB BSB: You will see this with your own eyes, and you yourselves will say, ‘The LORD is great—even beyond the borders of Israel.’”
The Polluted Offerings 6 UDB But the Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says to the people, "Boys honor their fathers, and servants respect their masters. So, if I am like your father and your master, why do you not honor me? Why do you not obey me?" And Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, has something to say to you priests: "You show no respect for me! But you priests ask, 'How have shown no respect for you?' BSB BSB: “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’
7 UDB I answer: Instead of honoring me, you have disgraced me by offering sacrifices on my altar that are unworthy of me, sacrifices that I would never accept. Then you dare to ask, 'What sacrifices have we given that are unworthy of you?' I answer: You think that it does not matter if you do not honor my altar. BSB BSB: By presenting defiled food on My altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled You?’ By saying that the table of the LORD is contemptible.
8 UDB You offer for sacrifices animals that are blind. Is that not wrong? You offer animals that are sick or lame. Do you really think I would accept such gifts? You would not dare to offer such gifts to your own governor! You know that he would not take them. You know that he would be displeased with you and would not welcome you!" That is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says! BSB BSB: When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.
9 UDB I, Malachi, see you continually go through the motions of asking God to help us. But Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says, "If you bring to me sacrifices that are not acceptable to me, why should I help you?" BSB BSB: “But ask now for God’s favor. Will He be gracious? Since this has come from your hands, will He show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.
10 UDB Yahweh also says, "I wish that one of you would shut the gates of the temple courtyard, in order that no one could offer those worthless sacrifices. I am not pleased with you, and I will not accept the offerings that you bring to me." This is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says. BSB BSB: “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.
11 UDB He also says, "People of other nations from east to west will indeed honor me. They will burn incense to honor me, and they will bring right offerings, offerings that I will accept. This will happen because people in all the nations will praise and honor me. BSB BSB: For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts.
12 UDB But you priests—you priests act in a way that shows me no honor at all. You say, 'It is all right if people disgrace the altar by bringing sacrifices that he will not accept.' BSB BSB: “But you profane it when you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is contemptible.’
13 UDB You also say, 'We are tired of burning all these sacrifices on the altar.' You turn up your noses at doing this. You bring sheep or goats that wild animals have attacked and torn in two. You also bring animals that are sick or that cannot walk. You cannot really think that I should accept these from you, can you?" This is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says. BSB BSB: You also say: ‘Oh, what a nuisance!’ And you turn up your nose at it,” says the LORD of Hosts. “You bring offerings that are stolen, lame, or sick! Should I accept these from your hands?” asks the LORD.
14 UDB Yahweh also says, "I will curse anyone who tries to cheat me by swearing that he will bring to me a perfect animal from his herd, and who then brings me one that has defects. If anyone does that, I will punish him, because I am a great king, and people of the other nations honor me, but you do not!" This is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says. BSB BSB: “But cursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and My name is to be feared among the nations.