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3 “Listen, I’m about to send my messenger and he’ll prepare the path ahead of me. Then the master who you’re all looking for will suddenly come to his temple, yes, the messenger who you are all happy about—the party to the agreement—he’ll come,” says army-commander Yahweh.[ref] 2 But who could survive it when he comes? Who can stand when he appears, because he’ll be like the refinder’s fire and like the cleaners’ powerful soap?[ref] 3 Yahweh will act as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify Levi’s descendants the priests—yes, he’ll refine you all with fire like gold and silver, and you’ll bring offerings to him that are acceptable. 4 After that, the offerings of the people of Yudah and Yerusalem will be pleasing to Yahweh, as in ancient times, and as in previous years.
5 This is what army-commander Yahweh says, “At that time, I’ll come to you all to judge you. I’ll quickly testify against all those who practice sorcery, against adulterers, against those who lie in court, against those who don’t pay their workers fairly, against those who mistreat widows and orphans, against those who don’t treat the foreigners among you decently, and against those who refuse to honour me.
3:6 Giving a tenth
6 “I am Yahweh and I don’t change—that’s the only reason why you descendants of Yacob haven’t been destroyed. 7 Ever since the time when your ancestors were alive, you all have ignored my commands and refused to obey them. Now return to me—if you all do so, I’ll return to you. That’s what I, army-commander Yahweh, say. But you all ask, ‘How can we return to you?’ 8 Can a human rob God? Yes, you’re all robbing me, but you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ By failing to give a tenth plus offerings. 9 You’re all cursed because you’re robbing me—the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tenth into the temple storeroom, so that there’ll be food in my house for the temple workers,” says army-commander Yahweh. “In fact, you all can test me by doing that and see if I don’t open the windows of heaven for you all and pour out an overflowing blessing for you.[ref] 11 I’ll rebuke the devourer[fn] for you all, so that it won’t destroy your crops, and the fruit off your vines in the countryside won’t be lost,” says army-commander Yahweh. 12 “Then all the other countries would say that you’ve all been blessed, because your land would be prosperous,” says army-commander Yahweh.
3:13 God promises mercy for some
13 “Your words against me have been harsh,” says Yahweh. “But you all say, ‘What have we said among ourselves against you?’ 14 You’ve all said, ‘It’s a waste of time serving God. What did we gain by keeping his requirements, or by being sorrowful in front of army-commander Yahweh? 15 It seems that arrogant people are happier. Evil people not only prosper, but they even challenge God yet nothing happens to them.’ ”
16 Then those who still respected Yahweh spoke with one another. Yahweh paid attention and listened, and while he watched, a book of remembrance was written about those who respected Yahweh and honoured his name. 17 “They’ll be mine,” says army-commander Yahweh. “On the day when I assemble my treasured possession, I won’t punish those people, just like a father doesn’t punish his son who obeys him. 18 Then once again you’ll all be able to see the difference between righteous people and wicked people—between those who serve God and those who don’t.
3:11 This is literally the ‘eater’ which could refer to some kind of insect (and hence ‘it won’t destroy’ in the next clause) or it could refer to some spiritual power (then you’d get ‘he won’t destroy’).