(KJV) Malachi 3¹

<< Malachi 2

Malachi 4 >>

⥃I Will Send My Messenger ^{[ Matthew 11:7–19 † Luke 7:24–35 ]}

[1] Behold, I will² send my messenger, and³ he⁴ shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even⁵ the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come⁶, saith the Lord of hosts. [2] But who may abide⁷ the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for⁸ he [is] like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’⁹ soap: [3] And he shall sit¹⁰ [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons¹¹ of Levi, an¹²d purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. [4] Then shall the offering¹³ of Judah and Jerusalem be pleas¹⁴ant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former¹⁵ years. [5] And I will come¹⁶ near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift¹⁷ witness against the sorcerers¹⁸, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those¹⁹ that oppress²⁰ the hireling in [his] wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger [from his right], and fear²¹ not me, saith the Lord of hosts.

⥃Robbing God

[6] For I [am²²] the Lord, I change not²³; therefore²⁴ ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

[7] Even from the²⁵ days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept [them]. Return unto me²⁶, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein²⁷ shall we return?

[8] [¶]Will a man²⁸ rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein²⁹ have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. [9] Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation.³⁰ [10] Bring ye all³¹ the tithes into the storehouse³², that there may be meat in mine house, and prove³³ me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open³⁴ you the windows of heaven, and pour you out³⁵ a blessing, that [there³⁶ shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it]. [11] And I will rebuke³⁷ the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy³⁸ the fruits of your ground; neither³⁹ shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. [12] And all⁴⁰ nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome⁴¹ land, saith the Lord of hosts.

⥃The Book of Remembrance

[13] Your⁴² words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What⁴³ have we spoken [so much] against thee? [14] Ye have said, It [is⁴⁴] vain to serve God: and what profit [is it] that we have kept his ordinance⁴⁵, and that⁴⁶ we have walked mournfully⁴⁷ before the Lord of hosts? [15] And now we call⁴⁸ the proud happy; yea⁴⁹, they that work wickedness are set⁵⁰ up; yea, [they that] tempt⁵¹ God are even delivered.

[16] [¶]Then they that feared⁵² the Lord spake⁵³ often one to another: and the⁵⁴ Lord hearkened, and heard [it], and a book⁵⁵ of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought⁵⁶ upon his name. [17] And they shall⁵⁷ be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels⁵⁸; and I⁵⁹ will spare them, as a man spareth his own son⁶⁰ that serveth him. [18] Then shall⁶¹ ye return, and discern⁶² between the righteous and the wicked, between him⁶³ that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

<< Malachi 2

Malachi 4 >>