1A prophecy: ⁰This message came from the Lord concerning Israel through Malachi.

2I have loved ¹you, says the Lord. But you ask, “How have you loved us?” Wasn't Esau Jacob's brother? the Lord responds. But I loved Jacob

3and despised Esau. I have made Esau's mountain homeland into a wasteland, and turned his inheritance into a desert for jackals.

4The people of Edom may be saying: “We have been beaten down, but we will rebuild the ruins.” But this is what the Lord Almighty says, They may try and build, but I will tear down. They will be called a land of wickedness, and the people those who make the Lord angry ²forever.

5You ³will see this destruction with your own eyes, and you will say, “The Lord is great, even beyond the borders of Israel.”

6A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. So if I am your father, where is my honor? If I am your master, where is my respect? says the Lord Almighty to you priests who show contempt for me. But you ask, “How have we shown contempt for you?”

7By making defiled ⁴offerings on my altar. Then you ask, “How have we defiled you?” By saying ⁵the Lord's table doesn't deserve respect.

8When you offer a blind animal as a sacrifice, isn't that wrong? Or when you offer an animal that is crippled or sick, isn't that wrong? Would you give such gifts to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Would he be kind and show favor to you? asks the Lord Almighty.

9So why don't you try being kind to God, begging him to be merciful to you? ⁶But when you bring such offerings, why should he show favor to you? asks the Lord Almighty.

10I really wish one of you would shut the Temple doors to stop you lighting pointless fires ⁷on my altar! I am not pleased with you, says the Lord Almighty, and I will not accept offerings from you.

11I am honored by nations from the farthest east to the distant west; everywhere people make offerings to me of incense and pure sacrifices. I am honored among the nations, says the Lord Almighty.

12But you dishonor me when you say the Lord's table doesn't deserve respect, and that its food can be treated with contempt.

13You say, “All this is too much trouble!” and you sniff scornfully at it, says the Lord Almighty. But when you bring animals that are stolen or crippled or sick and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept what you're giving? asks the Lord.

14Cursed are those who cheat by vowing to bring a ram as a sacrifice and then offers an imperfect animal to the Lord. For I am a great King, says the Lord Almighty, and I am respected ⁸among the nations!