17 You’ve all wearied Yahweh with your words, and yet you ask, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Yahweh is pleased even with those who do evil, and he’s happy with all of them,” or “Where is the God of justice?”

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 refiner’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 Yerushalem 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.