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 you ⌊an 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! What is the gain if we keep[fn] his requirements, and if we walk as mourners ⌊before⌋[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!’ ”