An Overflowing Blessing

6 “For I, Yahweh, have not changed,[fn] and you, O children of Jacob, have not perished.[fn] 7 From the days of your ancestors[fn] you have turned aside from my rules, and have not kept[fn]them! Return to me and I will return to you,” says Yahweh of hosts, “but you say, ‘How shall we return?’

8 Will a human dare to rob God? Yet you are robbing me! And you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In the tithes and the contributions! 9 You are being cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you! 10 Bring the whole tithe to the storehouse,[fn] so that there will be food in my house, and test me please in this,” says Yahweh of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour forth for youan overflowing blessing.[fn] 11 I will rebuke the devourer[fn] for you; it will not destroy the fruit of your soil; your vine in the field will not be unfruitful,” says Yahweh of hosts. 12 “And all the nations will call you blessed, because you will be a land in which one takes joy,”[fn] says Yahweh of hosts. 13 “Your words have been harsh[fn] against me,” says Yahweh. “But you say, ‘How have we spoken together against you?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is useless[fn] to serve God! Whatis the gain if we keep[fn] his requirements, and if we walk as mournersbefore[fn] Yahweh of hosts? 15 And now we are calling the arrogant blessed! Not only do those who do wickedness prosper; they also test God and they escape!’ ”