The LORD’s Love for Israel (Genesis 25:19–28; Romans 9:6–29)
1 UST This is a serious message from Yahweh. Yahweh gave it to Malachi to tell to the Israelite people. BSB BSB: This is the burden of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi:
3 UST But I did not favor Esau and his descendants. I turned Esau’ s hill country into empty land. I let wild dogs live in the places where Esau’ s people used to live.” BSB BSB: but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”
4 UST The people of Edom, who are Esau’ s descendants, might say,“Enemies have destroyed our towns, but we will rebuild them.” But Yahweh, who commands the heavenly armies, says,“Even if they rebuild, I will tear down what they build. People will call Edom a land of evil people. They will say that Yahweh will always be angry with the people of Edom. 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 UST You Israelites will see this happen. Then you will say,‘Even outside the land of Israel, people know that Yahweh is great!’” 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 UST Yahweh, who commands the heavenly armies, says,“A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. Since I am like a father to you, you should honor me, but you do not. Since I am your master, you should respect me, but you do not. I am saying this to you priests who do not respect me. You may wonder what I mean and ask,‘How have we shown disrespect to 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 UST You show disrespect by offering unacceptable sacrifices on my altar. You may wonder what I mean and ask,‘How have we offered unacceptable sacrifices?’ I will tell you. You show disrespect by thinking that you can treat my altar with contempt. 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 UST You bring blind animals to sacrifice to me. That is wrong. You bring animals that cannot walk or are sick. That is also wrong. If you gave animals like that to your governor, he would not be pleased with you, and he would not accept them.” This is what Yahweh, who commands the heavenly 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 UST “But you are asking me, God, to be kind to you, even though you have done these wrong things. Do not think that I will accept you!” This is what Yahweh, who commands the heavenly armies, says. 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 UST Yahweh. Who commands the heavenly armies, says,“I wish one of you would close the temple doors. Then you would not light useless fires on my altar. I am not happy with you. I will not accept any offerings from you. 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 UST People all over the world will respect me. In every place, people will burn incense to honor me and bring me pure offerings, because everyone will know how great I am.” This is what Yahweh, who commands the heavenly armies, says. 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 UST “But you dishonor me. You say that my altar is not important, and you do not value the food you get from it. 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 UST You even say,‘We are tired of doing this work!’ You show that you do not care about it.” This is what Yahweh, who commands the heavenly armies, says.“You bring me animals that you stole, cannot walk, or are sick. If you bring these as offerings, do not think that I will accept them from you!” says Yahweh. 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 UST “I will punish anyone who tries to cheat me. If someone promises to give me a good male animal from his flock but then gives me one that is not healthy, I will punish that person. After all, I am the great King. I am Yahweh, who commands the heavenly armies, and people all over the world respect me.” 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.