MLV(i)
1 Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord, whom you* seek, will suddenly come to his temple. And the messenger of the covenant, whom you* desire, behold, he comes, says Jehovah of hosts.
2 But who can abide the day of his coming? And who will stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like launder's soap.
3 And he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. And he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them as gold and silver. And they will offer to Jehovah offerings in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to Jehovah, as in the days of old and as in ancient years.
5 And I will come near to you* to judgment and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against the false swearers and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless and who turn aside the traveler and do not fear me, says Jehovah of hosts.
6 For I, Jehovah, do not change. Therefore you*, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your* fathers you* have turned aside from my ordinances and have not kept them. Return to me and I will return to you*, says Jehovah of hosts. But you* say, How will we return?
8 Will a man rob God? Yet you* rob me. But you* say, How have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings. 9 You* are cursed with the curse, for you* rob me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house and prove me now with this, says Jehovah of hosts, if I will not open to you* the windows of heaven and pour you* out a blessing, that there will not be room enough for it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your* sakes and he will not destroy the fruits of your* ground, nor will your* vine cast its fruit before the time in the field, says Jehovah of hosts. 12 And all nations will call you* fortunate, for you* will be a delightful land, says Jehovah of hosts.
13 Your* words have been stout against me, says Jehovah. Yet you* say, What have we spoken against you? 14 You* have said, It is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his charge and that we have walked mournfully before Jehovah of hosts? 15 And now we call the proud fortunate. Yes, those who work wickedness are built up. Yes, they challenge God and escape.
16 Then those who feared Jehovah spoke one with another and Jehovah listened and heard and a book of remembrance was written before him, for those who feared Jehovah and who thought upon his name. 17 And they will be mine, says Jehovah of hosts, my own possession, in the day that I make. And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him. 18 Then you* will return and discern between the righteous man and the wicked man, between he who serves God and he who does not serve him.
3 And he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. And he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them as gold and silver. And they will offer to Jehovah offerings in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to Jehovah, as in the days of old and as in ancient years.
5 And I will come near to you* to judgment and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against the false swearers and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless and who turn aside the traveler and do not fear me, says Jehovah of hosts.
6 For I, Jehovah, do not change. Therefore you*, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your* fathers you* have turned aside from my ordinances and have not kept them. Return to me and I will return to you*, says Jehovah of hosts. But you* say, How will we return?
8 Will a man rob God? Yet you* rob me. But you* say, How have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings. 9 You* are cursed with the curse, for you* rob me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house and prove me now with this, says Jehovah of hosts, if I will not open to you* the windows of heaven and pour you* out a blessing, that there will not be room enough for it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your* sakes and he will not destroy the fruits of your* ground, nor will your* vine cast its fruit before the time in the field, says Jehovah of hosts. 12 And all nations will call you* fortunate, for you* will be a delightful land, says Jehovah of hosts.
13 Your* words have been stout against me, says Jehovah. Yet you* say, What have we spoken against you? 14 You* have said, It is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his charge and that we have walked mournfully before Jehovah of hosts? 15 And now we call the proud fortunate. Yes, those who work wickedness are built up. Yes, they challenge God and escape.
16 Then those who feared Jehovah spoke one with another and Jehovah listened and heard and a book of remembrance was written before him, for those who feared Jehovah and who thought upon his name. 17 And they will be mine, says Jehovah of hosts, my own possession, in the day that I make. And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him. 18 Then you* will return and discern between the righteous man and the wicked man, between he who serves God and he who does not serve him.