Malachi 1

The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

The message from God to Israel, given by Malachi.

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,

The Lord says He loves you, but you ask how. You question if Esau, Jacob's brother, was not also loved. But the Lord specifically loved Jacob,

And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

I didn't like Esau, so I destroyed his mountains and land, leaving it empty for the wild dragon creatures.

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.

While Edom says they are poor and will rebuild the empty areas, the Lord says they'll build, but He will destroy. They'll be called "the border of wickedness" and "the people God is always angry with."

And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.

Your eyes will witness, and you will say, "The Lord's greatness will be known at the edge of Israel."

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?

A child respects their dad, and a worker their boss. If I am a dad, why don't I get respect? And if I am a boss, why don't you fear me? God, the powerful ruler, asks this question to the priests who don't value His name. You ask, how have we disrespected Your name?

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.

You give unclean food to God's altar and ask, "How have we offended you?" It's because you think God's table is not important.

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.

If you offer a blind animal for sacrifice, isn't that wrong? And if you offer a lame or sick one, isn't that also wrong? Give it to your leader instead. Will he be happy with you or accept you? asks the Lord of Heaven's Army.

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.

Now, please ask God to be kind to us. This happened because of you. Will he care about you? asks the Lord of heaven's armies.

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.

Who among you would close the doors for no reason? You also don't light a fire on my altar for no reason. I don't find pleasure in you, says the Lord of Hosts, and I won't accept any offering from you.

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.

From sunrise to sunset, my name will be respected among non-Jewish people. Offerings will be made to me in all places, as I am known and honored among those far away, says the Lord of all.

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.

But you have made it unholy by saying, The Lord's table is dirty, and the food from it, his meat, is not valued.

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.

You said it's so tiring, and you only barely paid attention to it, says the Lord of hosts. You offered torn, crippled, and sick things. Is this really what you want me to accept? says the Lord.

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.

But be careful with those who deceive others and have a male in their group. They make promises and offer sacrifices to God but use bad things. God says He is a powerful king and His name is feared by people in many places.