From the Greek Septuagint text as used
by First Century Christians.
According to the religion of Judaism, Malachi was the last prophet that God sent,
and after him, no other prophet came after him (other than Jesus).
Jews are not clear
as to who exactly Malachi was, and they differ when it comes to understanding his exact identity.
However, this prophecy shows all the reasons why God had become displeased with them and
with their Priests even at this early date, and why they were finally being rejected.
For after the coming of Jesus, their cities were destroyed, their people were either
killed or sold into captivity, and their form of worship at
the Temple under their Priests was totally dissolved.
Here you will note references to the work of John the Baptist,
the coming of Jesus (the Lord), the final destruction of JeruSalem,
and the
respect that even the people of the nations (the gentiles) had for God and for His
Name.
Is it poetry or isn’t it poetry?
Something that only a Bible translator would notice is that whenever God or His
spokesperson are quoted, the words were in the form of Hebrew poetry,
since
there is a definite cadence that can be noted in the original language.
Therefore, because this is the chosen style of God, we have rendered it as it
should be, in poetic verse.
Why did God and His spokesperson communicate through poetry?
Because poetic words provide memory aids that can be easily recalled to mind,
so that the messages could be spread throughout the population via the most
common medium of communication at the time, song.
Chapter 1
1 This is the matter of the word of Jehovah concerning IsraEl [that came] by the hand of His messenger.
2 ‘I have
loved you,’ says Jehovah.
‘But you’ve asked, How have You loved us?
‘Wasn’t Esau the brother of Jacob,’ asked Jehovah?
‘Yet, though I loved Jacob, 3 I
disliked [his brother];
So I ordered an end to his borders
And I gave him a home in the desert.
4 ‘And
because Edom will say,
Although we have been cut down,
We will return and rebuild our [homes]…
For this,’ says Jehovah the Almighty;
‘If they rebuild them, I’ll still knock them down;
For the Lawless Borders, is what they’ll be called,
And a People Opposed to Jehovah.
5 ‘And when
your eyes see this, you’ll say:
Jehovah has been magnified
Far beyond IsraEl’s borders.
6 ‘Fathers
are glorified by their sons
And servants bring glory to their masters.
But if I’m you father, where is My glory,
And if I’m your Master, where is [your] fear,’
Asks Jehovah the Almighty?
‘You Priests treat My Name with contempt,
Then ask how you’ve shown it dishonor…
7 By bringing unclean bread to
My Altar!
‘Then you ask how you’ve made it unclean…
You do it when you say that My table’s unclean,
And you treat it with contempt by the things that you bring.
8 ‘For, when
you offer [a lamb] that is blind;
Isn’t this something that’s evil?
And when you bring Me the lame and the ill;
Isn’t this [something that’s] wrong?
‘Carry it instead to [your king]
(The man that [rules over] you)…
Will this gift bring you his favor?
Yes, when you present it to him,
Will he bestow honor upon you,’
Asks Jehovah the Almighty? ‘No!’
9 ‘Now,
repent before the face of your God…
Yes, come before Me and beg!
With all the bad being done by your hands,
Should I accept such things from your souls,’
Asks Jehovah the Almighty? ‘No!’
10 ‘Thus to
you, the doors will be closed…
So don’t come and ask for My favor
By igniting a fire on My Altar.
‘There is nothing at all that I need from you,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
‘So I won’t accept any [gifts] from your hands.
11 ‘Among
the rest of the nations
(All from the sunrise to the sunset)
My Name has been glorified.
For, to My Name, they burn incense,
And what they offer before Me is pure!
‘Yes My Name is great among even the gentiles,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
12 ‘But, you still profane it
whenever you say,
The table of Jehovah is unclean,
And you treat the food that is set before Me
As something that’s worthy of contempt.
13 ‘For you
say, It’s just too much trouble…
And then, you [sniff in distain],’
Says Jehovah the Almighty,
‘As you bring Me game and the lame and the ill.
‘Yes you’ve offered such things up to Me.
But, when I receive these things from your hands,
Do you think that I’ll show you favor,’
Asks Jehovah the Almighty? ‘No!’
14 ‘Cursed
is the powerful man
That has a male [sheep] in his flock
And whose vow [to Me] is now due…
But he offers Me something imperfect instead!
For, no one is greater than Me,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty…
‘My Name is known among even the gentiles!’
Chapter 2
1 ‘O
Priests; this is what I am saying:
2 If you won’t listen and take
it to heart
That My Name must be glorified,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty;
‘I will send curses upon you…
I will curse all the things that you want me to bless…
I’ll curse them and not let them happen
If you do not take this message to heart.
3 ‘{Look!}
Though I’ve given the [lamb’s] shoulders to you;
I can throw their dung in your faces…
Their manure, I’ll send to your holiday feasts,
And after that, I’ll remove you!
4 Then you’ll know that I am the One
Who sent these instructions to you.
‘This is what I promised to Levi,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty God.
5 ‘For I made an agreement with
him…
An agreement that brings life and peace.
I also [taught him to] fear Me,
As I prepared him to glorify My Name.
6 ‘The law
of truth, [I put] into his mouth,
And unrighteous words weren’t found on his lips.
Straightforward in peace, he traveled with Me,
And many, he turned from injustice.
7 ‘So the
Priests must safeguard the knowledge
That used to come from his lips,
And seek the laws that came from his mouth;
For, he had served as an angel
Of Jehovah the Almighty God.
8 ‘But, you
have turned from his ways,
And many, you’ve turned from the Law…
You’ve corrupted My sacred agreement with Levi,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty!
9 ‘So I
have now handed you over
To those whom you view with contempt…
To those whom even the gentiles
Fail to view with respect.
For, you haven’t guarded My ways,
And My people, you’ve turned from My Laws.
10 ‘Don’t
you each have one father,
And weren’t you formed by one God?
So, why have you each let your brothers
Profane My Agreement with your fathers?
11 ‘For
this, I’m abandoning Judah…
Because in IsraEl and JeruSalem,
Disgusting things are now being done!
‘Judah has profaned [My] most holy things
(Things that I [dearly] loved)
When they [turned] to alien gods.
12 ‘So the
Lord will destroy those who’ve done this,
And Jacob’s tents will be humbled…
Those that carry sacrifices [before Me].
13 ‘Yes, you’re
the ones that have done all these things,
And that’s why I’ve come to hate you…
For you’ve covered My Altar with tears!
‘You’ve brought weeping and moaning upon it,
Because of the troubles you’ve caused.
For you thought I’d accept whatever you bring
As though it was truly worthy!
14 ‘So the
time has arrived when you’ll ask Me,
Why have You done this [to us]?
It’s because the Lord has served as a witness
Between you and the wives of your youth…
Those whom you’ve sent away…
Those that have [long] been your partners…
Those to whom [you’ve sworn oaths]!
15 ‘Because
you’re doing such things,
Don’t expect Me to send anything good
With even small portions of My Holy Breath!
‘Then you asked, What more than a seed does God want?
[I want you to] safeguard your spirits,
And not to abandon the wives of your youth!
16 ‘No, do
not detest them and send them away,
Then cover it up in your minds,’
Says Jehovah, IsraEl’s God.
For, thus says Jehovah the Almighty God:
‘Keep a close watch on your spirits,
And do not abandon [your women]!
17 ‘You also
provoke [Me] with things that you say…
And then you ask how you’ve done this.
You do it by saying before Him
That even the wicked are good…
That He really thinks [kindly] of them,
And that God doesn’t truly want justice.
Chapter 3
1
‘So, {Look!} I’ll be sending My messenger to you,
To prepare the way for the face of the Lord
(The one for whom you’ve been searching),
And he’ll suddenly arrive at My Temple…
This messenger of [My] Sacred Agreement.
‘Look, he’s coming,’ says Jehovah the Almighty,
2 ‘And who can endure the Day he arrives…
Yes, when he appears, who will stand?
For he’ll enter like the fire of a furnace
And like bleach that’s used to do washing.
3 ‘He’ll put
his melting pot into a furnace
As they do when they refine silver;
Then the sons of Levi, he will refine,
And he’ll pour them out like silver or gold.
‘Then they’ll finally be found worthy to serve
[Before Jehovah, the Almighty]…
And they’ll offer sacrifices that are righteous.
4 Then once again, I’ll be as
pleased
With the offerings of Judah and JeruSalem
As I was in the days of the ages,
And in the years of long ago.
5 ‘Then I’ll
come against you in judgment,
And against all those that make potions.
I’ll also be a swift witness
Against those who’re committing adultery
And swearing false oaths by My Name…
Those that don’t pay their employees…
Those who tyrannize orphans and widows,
And to foreigners, won’t give any justice.
‘Yes, these are the ones that don’t fear Me,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty…
6 ‘I’m Jehovah, your God, and I
never change!
7 ‘For you
sons of Jacob just won’t turn away
From the sins of your fathers…
You’ve not turned from them or guarded My Laws!
‘[All I ask] is for you to turn back to Me,
And then I’ll turn back to you,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty!
‘Yet you ask, From what do you want us to turn?
8 ‘Will a
man be stomped on by God? No!
Yet, you [are guilty] of stomping on Me!
Then you ask, How have we been stomping on You?
By holding back your first-fruits!
9 For you’ve turned from Me and
stashed them away…
This is how you are stomping on Me!
10 ‘This
year has now come to an end,
And you’ve harvested produce and stored it in barns…
But your homes will soon all be ravaged!
‘If you’ll just offer to Me what [is due],’
Says Jehovah the Almighty;
‘See if I do not open to you
An outpouring of rain from the skies!
‘Yes I’ll pour My blessings upon you
Until you’ve received [more than] enough.
11 For you, I will set aside
food,
And I’ll not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor will I weaken your grapevines,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
12 ‘Then,
all the nations will say you are blest,
And your land will be one that’s desired,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
13 ‘But, you’ve
put Me down with your words,’ says Jehovah.
‘And then you dare to [come here and] ask:
How have we spoken against You?
14 ‘By your
saying, Our service to God is in vain!
And, Though we have kept His instructions;
Before Him, we still must come begging!
15 Therefore, we will
bless foreign peoples,
As well as those that are breaking the Law…
And say that those who oppose God will live!
16 ‘Yet,
there are some that still council their neighbors
And speak of their fear of Jehovah.
So the Lord will take notice and listen to this,
Then write [their names] in the scroll
Of those that show honor and still fear My Name.
17 ‘And in
that Day, they’ll be Mine,’
Says the Almighty Jehovah;
‘I’ll prepare a procurement and set them aside
As a man [shows favor] to the son that [obeys].
18 ‘Then you’ll
turn to look and you’ll see
The things that will happen to the sinners…
Yes, you’ll see what happens to those that serve God
And to those that prefer not to serve Him.’
Chapter 4
1 ‘Look! The Day is about to arrive
When they’ll be consumed in an oven…
I’ll blaze against their arrogance and evil…
In that day, they’ll be burned up like stubble,’
Says Jehovah of Armies…
‘No way will a branch or a root still remain!
2 ‘But upon
those that still fear My Name,
The sun of righteousness will shine,
And healing [will follow on] its wings.
Then you’ll come here and leap like young calves
That have been spared from the stock pens.
3 ‘And on
the lawless, you’ll trample…
They’ll be like ashes under your feet
In the Day that I have prepared,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
4 ‘Remember the Laws of My servant Moses…
Those that I gave him in that dry place,
As well as the orders and decisions
That I gave to IsraEl through him!
5 ‘{Look!} I’ll
send EliJah, the Prophet
Before the Great Day of the Lord.
6 He’ll
restore the hearts of fathers to sons,
And the hearts of men to their neighbors…
So I won’t have to strike the whole land.’