1 THE BURDEN of the word of HaShem to Israel by Malachi.

2 I have loved you, saith HaShem. Yet ye say: 'Wherein hast Thou loved us?' Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith HaShem; yet I loved Jacob;

3 But Esau I hated, and made his mountains a desolation, and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness.

4 Whereas Edom saith: 'We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places'; thus saith HaShem of hosts: They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall be called The border of wickedness, and The people whom HaShem execrateth for ever.

5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say: 'The HaShem is great beyond the border of Israel.'

6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master; if then I be a father, where is My honour? and if I be a master, where is My fear? saith HaShem of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise My name. And ye say: 'Wherein have we despised Thy name?'

7 Ye offer polluted bread upon Mine altar. And ye say: 'Wherein have we polluted thee?' In that ye say: 'The table of HaShem is contemptible.'

8 And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it no evil! And when ye offer the lame and sick, is it no evil! Present it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee? or will he accept thy person? saith HaShem of hosts.

9 And now, I pray you, entreat the favour of G-d that He may be gracious unto us! --this hath been of your doing. --will He accept any of your persons? saith HaShem of hosts.

10 Oh that there were even one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on Mine altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, saith HaShem of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same My name is great among the nations; and in every place offerings are presented unto My name, even pure oblations; for My name is great among the nations, saith HaShem of hosts.

12 But ye profane it, in that ye say: 'The table of HaShem is polluted, and the fruit thereof, even the food thereof, is contemptible.'

13 Ye say also: 'Behold, what a weariness is it!' and ye have snuffed at it, saith HaShem of hosts; and ye have brought that which was taken by violence, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye bring the offering; should I accept this of your hand? saith HaShem.

14 But cursed be he that dealeth craftily, whereas he hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the L-rd a blemished thing; for I am a great King, saith HaShem of hosts, and My name is feared among the nations.