\NormalFont\ShortTitle{MALACHI}
{\MTB This book contains the account of Malachi proclaiming that God loves his people, Israel, that he will punish them for their sins, and that later he will restore them. We call this book
\par }{\MT Malachi

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{
This
is}}
the
message
that
Yahweh
gave
to
{\ADD{
the
prophet}}
Malachi
to
{\ADD{
give
to
the
people
of}}
Israel.
\par }{\SH Yahweh’s
love
for
the
people
of
Israel
\par }{\PP \VS{2}Yahweh
says, “I
have
{\ADD{
always}}
loved
you
{\ADD{Israeli
people}}.”
\par }{\PP \VS{3}But
you
reply, “In
what
way
have
you
loved
us?”
\par }{\PP Yahweh
replies, “{\ADD{
This
is
how
I
loved
you}}:
{\ADD{
It
is
true
that
your ancestor}}
Jacob
was [RHQ]
Esau’s
{\ADD{
younger}}
brother,
and
I
loved
Jacob,
but
I
rejected
Esau.
I
caused
his hilly
region
to
become ◄desolate/a
place
where
crops
did
not
grow►.
I
caused
the
land
which
he
possessed
to
become
a
desert
where
jackals/wolves
live.”
\par }{\PP \VS{4}{\ADD{
The
descendants
of
Esau
who
live
in}}
Edom
may
say, “{\ADD{
Yes,}}
we
have
been
crushed/ruined,
but
we
will
rebuild
{\ADD{
houses}}
in
the
ruins.”
\par }{\PP But
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
replies, “They
may
build
{\ADD{
houses
again}},
but
I
will
demolish
{\ADD{
them
again}}.
Their
{\ADD{
country}}
will
be
called ‘The
land
where
wicked
people
{\ADD{
live}}’
and
{\ADD{
their
people
will
be
called}} ‘The
people
with
whom
Yahweh
is
angry forever’.”
\par }{\PP \VS{5}When
you
{\ADD{Israeli}}
people
yourselves
see
{\ADD{
what
I
will
do
to
them}},
you
will
say, “{\ADD{
It
is
evident
far}}
beyond
the
borders
of
Israel
that
Yahweh
is
{\ADD{
very}}
great!”
\par }{\SH Unacceptable
sacrifices
\par }{\PP \VS{6}But
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
says
to
the
priests, “Boys
honor
their
fathers,
and
servants
{\ADD{
respect}}
their
masters.
So,
if
I
am
{\ADD{
like
your}}
father
and
your
master,
why [RHQ]
do
you
not
honor
and
respect
me?
You
have
despised
me [MTY]!”
\par }{\PP But
you
ask, “◄How/In
what
way►
have
we
despised
you?”
\par }{\PP \VS{7}{\ADD{
Yahweh
replies,}} “{\ADD{
Instead
of
honoring
me,
you
have
despised
me}}
by
offering
sacrifices
on
my
altar
that
are
unacceptable
to
me.”
\par }{\PP Then
you
ask, “What
sacrifices
have
we
given
that
have
been
unacceptable
to
you?”
\par }{\PP {\ADD{
Yahweh
replies,}} “You
think
that ◄it
does
not
matter/it
is okay►
if
you
do
not
respect
my
altar.
\VS{8}You
offer
for
sacrifices
animals
that
are
blind. ◄Is
that
not
wrong?/That
is
disgusting!► [RHQ]
And
you
offer
for
sacrifices
animals
that
are
crippled
or
that
have
diseases. ◄Is
that
also
not
wrong?/That
{\ADD{
also}}
is
disgusting!► [RHQ]
If
you
tried
to
give
presents
like
that
to
your
governor, ◄do
you
think [RHQ]
that
he
would
be
pleased?/he
would
certainly
not
be
pleased!► ◄Would
he [RHQ]
accept
such
gifts?He
would
certainly
not
accept
such
gifts!►
{\ADD{
That
is
what}}
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
says!”
\par }{\PP \VS{9}{\ADD{
And
he
also
says,}} “You
plead
with
me
to
be
merciful
to
you.
But
you
bring
to
me
sacrifices
that
are
not
acceptable
to
me,
so
why
should
I
be
kind
to
you [RHQ]?”
\par }{\PP \VS{10}The
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
{\ADD{
also}}
says, “I
wish/desire
that
one
of
you
would
shut
the
gates
{\ADD{
of
the
temple
courtyard}},
in
order
that
no
one
could
offer
those
worthless
sacrifices.
I
am
not
pleased
with
you,
and
I
will
not
accept
the
offerings
that
you
bring
to
me.
\VS{11}{\ADD{
People
of
other}}
nations
honor
me [MTY]
{\ADD{
every
day}},
from
sunrise/morning
until
sunset/evening.
All
over
the
world
people
offer
incense
and
{\ADD{
other}}
pure/acceptable
offerings
to
me [MTY].
{\ADD{
They
do
that}}
because
{\ADD{
people
among
all}}
the
nations
know
that
I [MTY]
am
{\ADD{
very}}
great.
\par }{\PP \VS{12}But
you
{\ADD{
priests
show
that
you}}
despise
me
{\ADD{
by
what
you
do}}.
You
say, ‘{\ADD{
It
is
all
right
if}}
people
pollute
the
altar
by
bringing
sacrifices
that
are
unacceptable.’
\VS{13}You
say ‘We
are
tired
of
{\ADD{
burning
all
these
sacrifices
on
the
altar}}.’
You ◄turn
up
your
noses
at/act
very disrespectfully
toward►
{\ADD{
me}}.
When
you
bring
{\ADD{
to
me}}
animals
that
have
been
stolen
or
ones
that
are
crippled
or
that
have
diseases,
to
offer
them
for
sacrifices,
{\ADD{
do
you
think
that}} [RHQ]
I
should
accept
them?
\par }{\PP \VS{14}{\ADD{
I
will}}
curse
anyone
who
{\ADD{
tries
to}}
cheat
{\ADD{
me}}
by
solemnly
promising
{\ADD{
to
bring
to
me
a
perfect}}
ram
from
his
flock
{\ADD{
of
sheep}}
and
then
brings
to
me
one
that
has defects.
{\ADD{
If
anyone
does
that,
I
will
punish
him}},
because
I
am
a
great
king;
{\ADD{
I
am}}
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
and
{\ADD{
people
of
the
other}}
nations
revere
me [MTY],
{\ADD{
but
you
do
not}}!”

\par }\Chap{2}{\SH A warning to the priests
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}You
priests,
I
will
say
something
to
warn
you.
\VS{2}The
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
says
{\ADD{
this}}: “Pay
attention
{\ADD{
to
what
I
am
saying}},
and
{\ADD{
then}}
decide [IDM]
to
honor
me [MTY].
If
you
do
not
do
that,
I
will
curse
you,
and
I
will
curse
{\ADD{
the
things
that
I
have
given
to
you
to}}
bless
you.
And
I
have
already
cursed
them,
because
you
have
not
honored [IDM]
me.
\VS{3}I
will
punish
your
descendants [MET],
and
{\ADD{
it
will
be
as
though}}
I
will splatter
on
your
faces
{\ADD{
some
of}}
the
material
inside
the
stomachs
of
the
animals
that
are
brought
to
be
sacrificed,
and
you
will
be
thrown
away
with
the
rest
of
that
material.
\par }{\PP \VS{4}When
that
happens,
you
will
know
that
I
warned
you
like
this,
in
order
that
my
agreement
with
{\ADD{
you
priests
who
are
descendants
of}}
Levi
will
continue
{\ADD{
to
be
obeyed}}.
{\ADD{
That
is
what
I,}}
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels,
am
saying
{\ADD{
to
you}}.
\VS{5}My
agreement
with
{\ADD{
your ancestor}}
Levi
was
because
I
wanted
the
priests
to
live
prosperously
and
peacefully.
And
that
is
what
I
have
done
for
them.
I
required
that
they
greatly
respect
me
and
revere [DOU]
me.
\VS{6}They
told
the
people
that
what
I
instructed
them
to
do
was
right.
And
they
did
not
tell [MTY]
lies.
They
worked
for
me
peacefully
and loyally,
and
they
helped
many
people
to
stop
sinning.
\par }{\PP \VS{7}What
priests
say [MTY]
should
enable
more
people
to
know
{\ADD{
about
me}},
and
people
should
go
to
them [MTY]
to
be
taught
{\ADD{
what
I
want
them
to
know}},
because
priests
{\ADD{
should}}
be
messengers
from
me,
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels.
\VS{8}But,
you
priests
have
stopped
doing
what
I
wanted
you
to
do.
What
you
have
taught
people
has
caused
many
{\ADD{
of
them}}
to
sin.
You
have
rejected
the
agreement
{\ADD{
that
I
made}}
with
{\ADD{
the
descendants
of}}
Levi
{\ADD{
long
ago}}.
\VS{9}Therefore
I
have
caused
all
the
people
to
despise
you,
and
I
have
caused
you
to
be
humiliated,
because
you
have
not
obeyed
me.
When
you
teach
{\ADD{
people}}
my
commands,
you
do
not
treat
all
{\ADD{
people}} equally.”
\par }{\SH Wrong
things
that
they
have
done
regarding
marriage
\par }{\PP \VS{10}{\ADD{
Now
I
will
warn
you
about
something
else}}.
We
all
certainly [RHQ]
have
the
same
{\ADD{
heavenly}}
Father.
We
are
certainly [RHQ]
{\ADD{
all}}
created
by
the
same
God.
So
why
are [RHQ]
{\ADD{
some
of}}
you disobeying/despising
the
agreement
{\ADD{
that
Yahweh
made}}
with
our
ancestors,
by
not
doing
for
each
other
what
you
said
that
you
would
do?
\par }{\PP \VS{11}{\ADD{
You
people
of}}
Judah
have
been
unfaithful
{\ADD{
to
Yahweh}}.
You
have
done
detestable
things
in
Jerusalem
and
in
{\ADD{
other
places}}
in
Israel.
You Israeli
men
have
defiled
the
temple
that
Yahweh
loves.
{\ADD{
You
have
done
that
by}}
marrying
women
who
worship
idols.
\VS{12}I
wish
that
Yahweh
would
expel
from
Israel
every
man
who
has
done
that,
{\ADD{
even
though}}
they
{\ADD{
say
that
they
are
obeying}}
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
by
bringing
offerings
to
him.
\par }{\PP \VS{13}This
is
another
thing
that
you
do:
You
cover
Yahweh’s
altar
with
your
tears.
You
wail
because
he
no
longer
pays
attention
to
your
offerings;
but
he
is
not
pleased
with
them.
\VS{14}You
{\ADD{
cry
out}},
saying, “Why
does
Yahweh
not
like
our
offerings?”
The
answer
is
that
Yahweh
heard
what
each
of
you
men
solemnly
promised
to
your
wives
when
you
were
young.
But
you
men
have
not
done
what
you
promised
your
wives;
you
sent
them
away,
the
ones
to
whom
you
made
that
agreement.
\par }{\PP \VS{15}It
is
certainly [RHQ]
Yahweh
who
joined
you
together.
Your
spirits
and
your
bodies
belong
to
him.
{\ADD{
So}}
what
he
wants [RHQ]
from
you
are
godly
children.
So
make
sure
that
each
of
you
men
remain ◄with/loyal
to►
the
woman
that
you
married
when
you
were
young.
\par }{\PP \VS{16}Yahweh,
the
God
to
whom
{\ADD{
we}} Israelis
belong,
says, “I
hate
divorce!”
{\ADD{
So}}
if
you
men
divorce
your
wives,
you
are
overwhelming
them
by
being
cruel
to
them.
So
be
sure
that
you
are ◄not
disloyal/remain
united►
to
your
wives.
{\ADD{
That
is
what}}
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
says.
\par }{\PP \VS{17}Yahweh
{\ADD{
also
says}}, “What
you
have
said
has
caused
me
to
become
disgusted.”
\par }{\PP You
reply, “What
have
we
said
that
caused
him
to
become
disgusted?”
\par }{\PP {\ADD{
The
answer
is
that
you
have
caused
him
to
become
disgusted}}
by
saying
that
Yahweh
is
pleased
with
all
those
who
do
evil
things.
{\ADD{
You
have
caused
him
to
become
disgusted}}
by
{\ADD{
constantly}}
asking, “Why
does
God
not
act
fairly?”

\par }\Chap{3}{\SH The time of judgment is near
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}The
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
says
{\ADD{
this}}: “Listen!
I
{\ADD{
am
about
to}}
send
my
messenger
who
will
prepare
{\ADD{
the
people
to
receive
me}}
when
I
come.
{\ADD{
You
claim
that}} [IRO]
you
are
wanting
to
see
me,
and
I
will
suddenly
come
to
my
temple.
The
messenger
{\ADD{
who
will
tell
you
about
a
new}}
agreement,
the
one
whom
you
are
eagerly [SAR] awaiting,
is
certainly
going
to
come
{\ADD{
to
you}}.”
\par }{\PP \VS{2}But
will
anyone [RHQ]
be
able
to
survive
when
he
comes?
Will
anyone [RHQ]
be
able
to
{\ADD{
remain}}
standing
in
front
of
him?
{\ADD{
Certainly
not,}}
because
he
will
be
like [SIM]
a
blazing
fire
that refines/purifies
{\ADD{
metal/gold}}.
He
will
be
like [SIM]
a
very
strong
soap
{\ADD{
that bleaches
clothes}}.
\VS{3}{\ADD{
He
will
be
like
a
worker
who}}
sits
{\ADD{
in
front
of
his
work}}
to
cause
silver
to
become
pure
by
burning
all
the
impurities.
Like
{\ADD{
a
worker refines}}
silver
and
gold,
he
will
cause
the ◄descendants
of
Levi/priests►
to
become
pure,
{\ADD{
in
order
that
they
will
again
become
acceptable
to}}
offer
sacrifices
that
will
be
acceptable
to
him.
\VS{4}When
that
happens,
Yahweh
will
{\ADD{
again}}
accept
the
offerings
brought
to
him
by
{\ADD{
the
people
of}}
Jerusalem
and
{\ADD{
other
places
in}}
Judah,
as
{\ADD{
he
did}}
previously.
\par }{\PP \VS{5}{\ADD{
This
is
what}}
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
says: “At
that
time,
I
will
come
to
you
to
judge
you.
I
will
quickly
testify
against
{\ADD{
all}}
those
who
practice
sorcery/witchcraft,
{\ADD{
all
}}those
who
have
committed
adultery,
and
{\ADD{
all}}
liars.
{\ADD{
I
will
testify}}
against
those
who
have
not
given
their
workers
the
pay/wages
that
they
promised,
those
who ◄oppress/treat
cruelly►
widows
and
orphans,
and
those
who
do
not
allow
foreigners
who
live
among
you
to
be
treated
fairly.
{\ADD{
I
will
testify
that
all}}
the
people
who
do
those
things
do
not
revere
me.”
\par }{\SH Not
bringing
tithes
\par }{\PP \VS{6}“I
am
Yahweh,
and
I
never
change.
And
although
you
{\ADD{
deceive
people
like}}
your ancestor
Jacob
did,
I
have
not
{\ADD{
yet}}
gotten
rid
of
you.
\VS{7}You
and
your
ancestors
have
ignored
my
commands
and
you
have
not
obeyed
them.
{\ADD{
Now}}
return
to
me;
and
when
that
happens,
I
will ◄return/do
good►
to
you.
{\ADD{
That
is
what
I,}}
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels,
say.”
\par }{\PP But
you
ask, “{\ADD{
We
have
never
gone
away
from
you,
so}}
how
can
we
return
{\ADD{
to
you}}?”
\par }{\PP \VS{8}{\ADD{
I
reply,}} “People
should
certainly
not [RHQ]
cheat
God;
but
you
people
have
cheated
me!”
\par }{\PP You
ask, “In
what
way
did
we
cheat
you?”
\par }{\PP {\ADD{
I
reply,}} “{\ADD{
You
have
cheated
me
by
not
bringing
to
me
each
year}} ◄the
tithes/one
tenth
of
{\ADD{
all}}
your
crops
and
animals►
and
{\ADD{
other}}
offerings
{\ADD{
that
you
are
required
to
give
to
me}}.
\VS{9}All
that
you
do
is
cursed,
because
all
you
people
in
this
country
have
been cheating
me.
\VS{10}{\ADD{
Now}}
bring
all
the
tithes
to
the
storage
rooms
{\ADD{
in
the
temple}},
in
order
that
there
will
be
{\ADD{
enough}}
food
{\ADD{
for
the
people
who
serve
me}}
there.
If
you
do
that,
I,
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels,
promise
that
I
will
open
the
windows
of
heaven,
and
pour
out
{\ADD{
from
them}}
blessings
on
you.
{\ADD{
If
you
bring
your
tithes
to
the
temple,
the
blessings
will
be}}
very
great,
with
the
result
that
you
will
not
have
enough
space
to
store
all
of
them.
So
test
me
{\ADD{
to
see
if
I
am
telling
the
truth}}.
\VS{11}You
will
have
abundant
crops
{\ADD{
to
harvest}},
because
I
will
protect
them
in
order
that
they
will
not
be
harmed
by
locusts/insects.
Your
grapes
will
not
fall
from
the
vines
{\ADD{
before
they
are
ripe}}.
\VS{12}When
that
happens,
{\ADD{
the
people
of}}
all
nations
will
say
that
{\ADD{
I}}
have
blessed
you,
because
your
country
will
be
delightful.
{\ADD{
That
is
what
I,}}
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels,
say.
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP \VS{13}{\ADD{
I,}}
Yahweh,
{\ADD{
have
something
else}}
to
say
{\ADD{
to
you}}.
You
have
said
terrible
things
about
me.”
\par }{\PP But
you
reply, “What
terrible
things
have
we
said
about
you?”
\par }{\PP \VS{14}{\ADD{
I
reply}}, “You
have
said, ‘It
is
useless
{\ADD{
for
us}}
to
serve
God.
We
have
gained
nothing [RHQ]
by
obeying
the
commands
that
he
gave
{\ADD{
to
us}}
and
by
trying
to
show
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
that
we
are
sorry
{\ADD{
for
the
sins
that
we
have
committed}}.
\VS{15}From
now
on,
we
will
say/consider
that
those
who
are
proud
are
{\ADD{
the
ones
whom
God
has}}
blessed.
{\ADD{
We
will
say
that
because
it
seems
that
it
is}}
those
who
do
evil
who
become
rich,
and
{\ADD{
that
it
is}}
those
who
try
to
find
out
how
many
evil
things
they
can
do
without
God
punishing
them
who
are
not
punished.’ ”
\par }{\PP \VS{16}After
{\ADD{
the
people
heard
my
message}},
those
who
revered
Yahweh discussed
{\ADD{
those
things}}
with
each
other,
and
Yahweh
listened
to
what
they
said.
While
Yahweh
was
watching,
they
wrote
on
a
scroll
the
things
that
would
remind
them
{\ADD{
about
what
they
promised}},
and
they
wrote
on
that
scroll
the
names
of
those
who
revered
Yahweh
and
who
{\ADD{
said
that
they}}
always
wanted
to
honor
him [MTY].
\par }{\PP \VS{17}The
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
says
this
{\ADD{
about
those
people}}: “They
will
be
my
people.
At
the
time
that
I
judge
people,
{\ADD{
they
will
be
like}} [MET]
a
special
treasure
to
me.
I
will
be
kind
to
them,
like [SIM]
fathers
are
kind
to
their
sons
who
obey
them.
\VS{18}When
that
happens,
you
will
again
see
that
{\ADD{
the
manner
in
which
I
treat}}
righteous
people
is
different
from
{\ADD{
the
manner
in
which
I
treat}}
wicked
people.
{\ADD{
You
will
see
that
the
manner
in
which
I
act
toward}}
those
who
serve
me
is
different
from
{\ADD{
the
manner
in
which
I
act
toward}}
those
who
do
not.”

\par }\Chap{4}{\SH The coming time of punishment
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{
This
is
also
what}}
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
says: “There
will
be
a
time
that
I
will
judge
{\ADD{
and
punish}}
people.
{\ADD{
When
that
happens,
it
will
be}}
like [SIM]
a
very
hot
furnace.
At
that
time,
all
the
proud
and
wicked
people
will
be
burned
up
like [MET]
stubble
burns.
They
will
be
burned
up
completely,
{\ADD{
like}}
roots
and
branches
{\ADD{
and
everything
else
on
a
tree
burns
completely
in
a
very
hot
fire}}.
\VS{2}But
{\ADD{
as
for}}
you
who
revere
me [MTY],
{\ADD{
the
one
who
will
save
you
will
come
to
you}}
like [MET]
{\ADD{
the
sun
shines
in
the
morning,
and
enable
you
to}}
become
righteous (OR,
{\ADD{
do
what
is}}
righteous);
he
will
restore
you
{\ADD{
and
protect
you
like
a
bird
protects
its chicks}} [MET]
under
its
wings.
{\ADD{
When
he
comes,}}
you
will
{\ADD{
be
very
joyful}},
like [SIM]
calves
that
go
out
from
a
barn
into
the
pasture
leaping
{\ADD{
joyfully}}.
\VS{3}At
the
time
when
I
judge
people,
you
will
tread
on
wicked
people
as
though [SIM]
they
were
the
dirt
under
your
feet.
{\ADD{
That
is
what
I}},
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels,
promise.
\par }{\PP \VS{4}Be
sure
to
obey
the
laws
that
I
gave
to
Moses,
who
served
me
{\ADD{
well}}.
{\ADD{
Obey
all}}
the
commandments
and
regulations
that
I
gave
him
on
Sinai
{\ADD{
Mountain}},
for
all
{\ADD{
you
people
of}}
Israel
{\ADD{
to
obey.}}
\par }{\PP \VS{5}Listen
{\ADD{
to
this:
Some
day}}
I
will
send
to
you
the
prophet
Elijah.
{\ADD{
He
will
arrive}}
before
the
great
and
dreadful/terrible
day
when
{\ADD{
I}},
Yahweh,
{\ADD{
will
judge
and
punish
people}}.
\VS{6}Because
of
what
he
{\ADD{preaches}},
parents
and
their
children
will
{\ADD{
love}}
each
other
{\ADD{
again}} [IDM].
If
that
does
not
happen,
I
will
come
and
curse
your
country
{\ADD{
and
destroy
it}}.”
\par }