The Lord’s Love for Israel

1 An oracle. The message of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.

2 ‘I have loved you,’ says the Lord. ‘But you ask, “How have you shown love to us?” Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?’ explains the Lord of hosts, ‘yet I loved Jacob, 3 but hated Esau, and made his mountains a desolation, and transformed his ancestral land into a wilderness. 4 When Edom says, “We are beaten down, but we will return and rebuild the ruined places” ’ the Lord of hosts says, ‘They may build, but I will throw down. They will be called, “The border land of wickedness,” the people against whom the Lord is angry forever. 5 Your own eyes will see this, and you will say, “the Lord’s greatness reaches beyond the border of Israel.” ’