Malachi 1:1-14 CEB

[1] A pronouncement. The LORD’s word to Israel through Malachi. [2] I have loved you, says the LORD; but you say, “How have you loved us?” Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother? says the LORD. I loved Jacob, [3] but I rejected Esau. I turned Esau’s mountains into desolation, his inheritance into a wilderness for jackals. [4] Edom may say, “We are beaten down, but we will rebuild the ruins”; but the LORD of heavenly forces proclaims: They may build, but I will tear them down. They will call themselves a wicked territory, the people against whom the LORD rages forever. [5] Your eyes will see it and you will say, “May the LORD be great beyond the borders of Israel.” [6] A son honors a father, and a servant honors his master. But if I’m a father, where is my honor? Or if I’m a master, where is my respect? says the LORD of heavenly forces to you priests who despise my name. So you say, “How have we despised your name?” [7] By approaching my altar with polluted food. But you say, “How have we polluted it?” When you say, “The table of the LORD can be despised.” [8] If you bring a blind animal to sacrifice, isn’t that evil? If you bring a lame or sick one, isn’t that evil? Would you bring it to your governor? Would he be pleased with it or accept you? says the LORD of heavenly forces. [9] So now ask God to be gracious to us. After what you have done, will he accept you? says the LORD of heavenly forces. [10] Who among you will shut the doors of the temple so that you don’t burn something on my altar in vain? I take no delight in you, says the LORD of heavenly forces. I won’t accept a grain offering from your hand. [11] Nevertheless, from sunrise to sunset, my name will be great among the nations. Incense and a pure grain offering will be offered everywhere in my name, because my name is great among the nations, says the LORD of heavenly forces. [12] But you make my name impure when you say, “The table of the LORD is polluted. Its fruit, its food, is despised.” [13] But you say, “How tedious!” and you groan about it, says the LORD of heavenly forces. You permit what is stolen, lame, or sick to be brought for a sacrifice, and you bring the grain offering. Should I accept such from your hands? says the LORD. [14] I will curse the cheater who has a healthy male in his flock, but who promises and sacrifices to the LORD that which is corrupt. I am truly a great king, says the LORD of heavenly forces, and my name is feared among the nations.