¶ The burden¹ of the word of the LORD to Israel by² Malachi.

I have³ loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein⁴ hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I⁵ loved Jacob,

And I hated⁶ Esau, and laid⁷ his mountains and his heritage waste for the⁸ dragons of the wilderness.

Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but⁹ we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build¹⁰, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border¹¹ of wickedness, and, The people¹² against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.

And your¹³ eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD¹⁴ will be magnified from¹⁵ the border of Israel.

¶ A son¹⁶ honoureth his father, and a servant¹⁷ his master: if then¹⁸ I be a father, where is mine honour? and if¹⁹ I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests²⁰, that despise my name. And ye²¹ say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

Ye offer²² polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table²³ of the LORD is contemptible.

And if ye offer the blind²⁴ 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.

And now, I pray you, beseech²⁶ God²⁷ that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means²⁸: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.

¶ Who²⁹ is there even³⁰ among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither³¹ do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have³² no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

For from³³ the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name³⁴ shall be great among the Gentiles; and in³⁵ every place incense³⁶ shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for³⁷ my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

But ye have³⁸ profaned it, in that ye say, The table³⁹ of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.

Ye said also, Behold,⁴⁰ what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it,⁴¹ 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 accept⁴² this of your hand? saith the LORD.

But cursed⁴³ be the deceiver, which hath in his flock⁴⁴ a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for⁴⁵ I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name⁴⁶ is dreadful among the heathen.