Malachi 3

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

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1Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; And suddenly there will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek, And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.

2But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner's fire, or like the fuller's lye.

3He will sit refining and purifying (silver), and he will purify the sons of Levi, Refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.

4Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD, as in days of old, as in years gone by.

5I will draw near to you for judgment, and I will be swift to bear witness Against the sorcerers, adulterers, and perjurers, those who defraud the hired man of his wages, Against those who defraud widows and orphans; those who turn aside the stranger, and those who do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.

6Surely I, the LORD, do not change, nor do you cease to be sons of Jacob.

7Since the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. Yet you say, "How must we return?"

8Dare a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me! And you say, "How do we rob you?" In tithes and in offerings!

9You are indeed accursed, for you, the whole nation, rob me.

10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, That there may be food in my house, and try me in this, says the LORD of hosts: Shall I not open for you the floodgates of heaven, to pour down blessing upon you without measure?

11For your sake I will forbid the locust to destroy your crops; And the vine in the field will not be barren, says the LORD of hosts.

12Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land, says the LORD of hosts.

13You have defied me in word, says the LORD, yet you ask, "What have we spoken against you?"

14You have said, "It is vain to serve God, and what do we profit by keeping his command, And going about in penitential dress in awe of the LORD of hosts?

15Rather must we call the proud blessed; for indeed evildoers prosper, and even tempt God with impunity."

16Then they who fear the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened attentively; And a record book was written before him of those who fear the LORD and trust in his name.

17And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, my own special possession, on the day I take action. And I will have compassion on them, as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.

18Then you will again see the distinction between the just and the wicked; Between him who serves God, and him who does not serve him.

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