Moff MAL Introduction

MAL Intro ► ║ ═ ©

MAL

MALACHI

1 The oracle of the Eternal’s word to Israel, brought by his messenger.

2 I have loved you indeed, says the Eternal; yet you ask, “How hast thou loved us?” “Thus,” the Eternal answers; “is not Esau the brother of Jacob, and yet I have loved Jacob 3 and I have hated Esau, laying his mountain ranges waste and leaving his heritage to jackals of the desert. 4 Edom may say, ‘We are crushed, but we will rebuild the ruins.’ The Lord of hosts declares: They may build, but I will break, till they are called ‘The Criminal Land,’ a folk with whom the Eternal is for ever furious. 5 Your own eyes shall see that, and you shall cry, ‘All hail to the Eternal, far beyond the borders of Israel!’

6 I the Eternal never change, but you are the sons of Jacob the cheater still; 7 ever since the days of your fathers, you have swerved from my laws and failed to keep them. Come back to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will come back to you. ‘How do we need to come back?’ you ask. 8 Well, can a man cheat God? And yet you are cheating me. ‘How have we cheated thee?’ you ask. By your tithes and offerings. 9 You lie under my curse for cheating me, the whole of your nation, 10 If you would enjoy ample rations in my House, then pay all your tithes into the treasury, and see what I will do, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not then open the very sluices of heaven to pour a blessing down for you, a harvest more than enough; 11 I will stop the locust from spoiling your crops, and your vines shall not miscarry (the Lord of hosts declares); 12 all nations shall call you happy, the Lord of hosts declares, for you shall be a land of delight.

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