Chapter 1

The burden of a word of Yehovah unto Israel by the hand of Malachi:

I have loved you, said Yehovah, And ye have said, `In what hast Thou loved us?`

Is not Esau Jacob`s brother? -- an affirmation of Yehovah, And I love Jacob, and Esau I have hated, And I make his mountains a desolation, And his inheritance for dragons of a wilderness.

Because Edom saith, `We have been made poor, And we turn back and we build the wastes,` Thus said Yehovah of Hosts: They do build, and I do destroy, And men have called to them, `O region of wickedness,` `O people whom Yehovah defied to the age.`

And your eyes do see, and ye say, `Magnified is Yehovah beyond the border of Israel,

A son honoureth a father, and a servant his master. And if I am a father, where is Mine honour? And if I am a master, where is My fear? Said Yehovah of Hosts to you, O priests, despising My name! And ye have said: `In what have we despised Thy name?`

Ye are bringing nigh on Mine altar polluted bread, And ye have said: `In what have we polluted Thee?` In your saying: `The table of Yehovah -- it is despicable,`

And when ye bring nigh the blind for sacrifice, `There is no evil,` And when ye bring nigh the lame and sick, `There is no evil;` Bring it near, I pray thee, to thy governor -- Doth he accept thee? or doth he lift up thy face? Said Yehovah of Hosts.

And now, appease, I pray thee, the face of God, And He doth favour us; From your own hand hath this been, Doth He accept of you appearances? Said Yehovah of Hosts.

Who is even among you, And he shutteth the two-leaved doors? Yea, ye do not kindle Mine altar for nought, I have no pleasure in you, said Yehovah of Hosts, And a present I do not accept of your hand.

For, from the rising of the sun to its going in, Great is My name among nations, And in every place perfume is brought nigh to My name, and a pure present, For great is My name among nations, Said Yehovah of Hosts.

And ye are polluting it in your saying, `The table of Yehovah -- it is polluted, As to its fruit -- despicable is its food.`

And ye have said, `Lo, what a weariness,` And ye have puffed at it, said Yehovah of Hosts, And ye have brought in plunder, And the lame and the sick, And ye have brought in the present! Do I accept it from your hand? said Yehovah.

And cursed is a deceiver, who hath in his drove a male, And is vowing, and is sacrificing a marred thing to the Lord, For a great king am I, said Yehovah of Hosts, And My name is revered among nations!