v1
An oracle. ^[Literally “A burden”] The word of Yahweh to Israel through ^[Literally “by the hand of”] Malachi. ^[The name “Malachi” means “my messenger” in Hebrew]
v2
“I have loved you,” says Yahweh, but you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is Esau not Jacob’s brother?” declares ^[Literally “declaration of”] Yahweh. “I have loved Jacob,
v3
but Esau I have hated. I have made his ^[That is, “Esau’s”] mountain ranges a desolation, and given his inheritance to the jackals of the desert.”
v4
If Edom says, “We are shattered, but we will return and rebuild the ruins,” Yahweh of hosts says this: “They may build, but I will tear down; and they will be called a territory of wickedness, and the people with whom Yahweh is angry forever.”
v5
Your eyes will see this, and you will say, “Yahweh is great beyond the borders ^[Hebrew “boundary”] of Israel.”
v6
“A son honors his father, and a slave his master; ^[Hebrew “masters”] but if I am a father, where is my honor, and if I am a master, ^[Hebrew “masters”] where is my reverence?” says Yahweh of hosts to you, O priests, who despise ^[Literally “despisers of”] my name. “But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?‘
v7
You are presenting defiled food on my altar! But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ By saying that the table of Yahweh is despised!
v8
When you offer a blind animal for sacrifice, is that not wrong? ^[Or “is there no wrong?“] And when you offer the lame and the one who is ill, is that not wrong? ^[Or “is there no wrong?“] Present it, please, to your governor! Will he be pleased with you? Will he show you favor?” ^[Literally “Will he lift your face?”] says Yahweh of hosts.
v9
So then, implore the favor of God ^[Literally “appease, please, the face of God”] so that he will be gracious to us. “This is what you have done. ^[Literally “From your hand was this”] Will he show favor to any of you?” ^[Literally “will he lift up from you a face”] says Yahweh of hosts.
v10
“Who also among you will shut the temple doors so that you will not kindle fire in vain on my altar? I take no pleasure in you,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and I will not accept ^[Literally “I will not take pleasure in”] an offering from your hand.
v11
From the rising of the sun to its setting, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is being presented to my name, and a pure offering. For my name is great among the nations,” says Yahweh of hosts.
v12
“But you are profaning it by saying the table of the Lord is defiled, and its fruit—its food ^[The Hebrew here is difficult; “its food” may function to explain “its fruit”]—is despised!
v13
And you say, ‘Look! This is a weariness,’ and you sniff with disdain at it,” says Yahweh of hosts. “And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the one that is sick—this you bring as the offering! Should I accept it ^[Literally “take pleasure in it”] from your hand?” says Yahweh.
v14
“Cursed is the one who cheats, who has in his flock a male and vows it, but instead sacrifices a blemished one to the Lord! For I am a great king,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and my name is awesome among the nations.”