Malachi 3
1. Behold, I will send * my messenger, and he shall prepare * the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek * , shall suddenly come * to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come * , saith * the LORD of hosts.
2. But who may abide * the day of his coming * ? and who shall stand * when he appeareth * ? for he is like a refiner's * fire, and like fullers * ' soap:
3. And he shall sit * as a refiner * and purifier * of silver: and he shall purify * the sons of Levi, and purge * them as gold and silver, that they may offer * unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
4. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant * unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former 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 false swearers * , and against those that oppress * the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside * the stranger from his right, and fear * not me, saith * the LORD of hosts.
6. For I am the LORD, I change * not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed * .
7. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away * from mine ordinances, and have not kept * them. Return * unto me, and I will return * unto you, saith * the LORD of hosts. But ye said * , Wherein shall we return * ?
8. Will a man rob * God? Yet ye have robbed * me. But ye say * , Wherein have we robbed * thee? In tithes and offerings.
9. Ye are cursed * with a curse: for ye have robbed * me, even this whole nation.
10. Bring * ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove * me now herewith, saith * the LORD of hosts, if I will not open * you the windows of heaven, and pour you out * a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11. And I will rebuke * the devourer * for your sakes, and he shall not destroy * the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit * before the time in the field, saith * the LORD of hosts.
12. And all nations shall call you blessed * : for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith * the LORD of hosts.
13. Your words have been stout * against me, saith * the LORD. Yet ye say * , What have we spoken * so much against thee?
14. Ye have said * , It is vain to serve * God: and what profit is it that we have kept * his ordinance, and that we have walked * mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
15. And now we call * the proud happy * ; yea, they that work * wickedness are set up * ; yea, they that tempt * God are even delivered * .
16. Then they that feared the LORD spake often * one to another: and the LORD hearkened * , and heard * it, and a book of remembrance was written * before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought * upon his name.
17. And they shall be mine, saith * the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up * my jewels; and I will spare * them, as a man spareth * his own son that serveth * him.
18. Then shall ye return * , and discern * between the righteous and the wicked,between him that serveth * God and him that serveth * him not.
