1An oracle: Is 13:1; Zch 9:1; 12:1 The word of the Lord Hs 1:1; Jl 1:1; Mc 1:1; Zph 1:1 to Israel through Jr 37:2; Hg 1:1 Malachi. = My Messenger

2“I have loved you,” Dt 4:37; 7:6-8; 10:14-15; Neh 13:26; Ps 78:68 says the Lord.

3but I hated Esau. Gn 25:23; Rm 9:10-13 I turned his mountains into a wasteland, and gave his inheritance to the desert jackals.” Is 34:5-17; Jr 49:7-22; Ezk 35:1-15

4Though Edom says: “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild Or will return and build the ruins,” the Lord of Hosts says this: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called a wicked country Mal 3:12,15 and the people the Lord has cursed Or Lord is angry with forever. Is 34:5-17; Jr 49:17-18; Mal 1:14; 2:2; 3:9; 4:6

5Your own eyes will see this, and you yourselves will say, ‘The Lord is great, even beyond Or great over the borders of Israel.’ Ps 67:1-7; 72:8-11; Ezk 39:7; Zch 12:1-10; Rm 11:11-12

6“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? 1Sm 2:30; Dn 5:23; Hg 1:8 says Yahweh of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name.”

7“By presenting defiled food on My altar.”

8“When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong? Lv 22:18-25; Dt 15:21; 17:1 Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor? ” asks the Lord of Hosts.

9“And now ask for God’s favor. Will He be gracious to us? 1Sm 13:12; Pr 19:6; Dn 9:13 Since this has come from your hands, will He show any of you favor? ” Nm 6:25-26 asks the Lord of Hosts.

10“I wish one of you would shut the temple doors, 2Ch 28:24 so you would no longer kindle a useless fire on My altar! Pr 1:17; Is 1:14 I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Hosts, “and I will accept Lv 22:19-21 no offering from your hands. Is 1:10-17; Jr 6:20; Am 5:21-23; Mc 6:6-8

11“For My name will be great among the nations, Ps 113:3; Is 45:6; 59:19; Mt 8:11 from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense Or Burnt offerings and pure offerings will be presented in My name in every place because My name will be great among the nations,” Or is great . . . are presented . . . is great says Yahweh of Hosts.

12But you are profaning it Lv 22:2; Ezk 13:19; 22:26; 36:20-23; Mal 2:10-11 when you say: “The Lord’s table is defiled, and its product, its food, is contemptible.”

13You also say: “Look, what a nuisance! ” “And you scorn Lit blow at it,” Ancient Jewish tradition reads Me 1Sm 2:29 says the Lord of Hosts. “You bring stolen, Or injured 2Sm 24:24 lame, or sick animals. You bring this as an offering! Am I to accept that from your hands? ” asks the Lord.

14“The deceiver is cursed who has an acceptable male in his flock and makes a vow but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. Lv 22:18-25; 27:9-10; Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21-23; Ec 5:4-7 For I am a great King,” says Yahweh of Hosts, “and My name Or Because I am . . . Yahweh of Hosts, My name will be feared among the nations.