1 Behold, I will send|strong="H7971" my messenger|strong="H4397", and he shall prepare|strong="H6437" the way|strong="H1870" before|strong="H6440" me: and the Lord|strong="H0113", whom ye seek|strong="H1245", shall suddenly|strong="H6597" come|strong="H0935" to his temple|strong="H1964", even the messenger|strong="H4397" of the covenant|strong="H1285", whom ye delight|strong="H2655" in: behold, he shall come|strong="H0935", saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* of hosts|strong="H6635".
2 But who may abide|strong="H3557" the day|strong="H3117" of his coming|strong="H0935"? and who shall stand|strong="H5975" when he appeareth|strong="H7200"? for he is like a refiner’s|strong="H6884" fire|strong="H0784", and like fullers’|strong="H3526" soap|strong="H1287":
3 And he shall sit|strong="H3427" as a refiner|strong="H6884" and purifier|strong="H2891" of silver|strong="H3701": and he shall purify|strong="H2891" the sons|strong="H1121" of Levi|strong="H3878", and purge|strong="H2212" them as gold|strong="H2091" and silver|strong="H3701", that they may offer|strong="H5066" unto the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* an offering|strong="H4503" in righteousness|strong="H6666".
4 Then shall the offering|strong="H4503" of Judah|strong="H3063" and Jerusalem|strong="H3389" be pleasant|strong="H6149" unto the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, as in the days|strong="H3117" of old|strong="H5769", and as in former|strong="H6931" years|strong="H8141".
5 And I will come near|strong="H7126" to you to judgment|strong="H4941"; and I will be a swift|strong="H4116" witness|strong="H5707" against the sorcerers|strong="H3784", and against the adulterers|strong="H5003", and against false|strong="H8267" swearers|strong="H7650", and against those that oppress|strong="H6231" the hireling|strong="H7916" in his wages|strong="H7939", the widow|strong="H0490", and the fatherless|strong="H3490", and that turn aside|strong="H5186" the stranger|strong="H1616" from his right, and fear|strong="H3372" not me, saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* of hosts|strong="H6635".
6 For I am the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, I change|strong="H8138" not; therefore ye sons|strong="H1121" of Jacob|strong="H3290" are not consumed|strong="H3615".
7 Even from the days|strong="H3117" of your fathers|strong="H0001" ye are gone away|strong="H5493" from mine ordinances|strong="H2706", and have not kept|strong="H8104" them. Return|strong="H7725" unto me, and I will return|strong="H7725" unto you, saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* of hosts|strong="H6635". But ye said|strong="H0559", Wherein shall we return|strong="H7725"?
8 Will a man|strong="H0120" rob|strong="H6906" God|strong="H0430"? Yet ye have robbed|strong="H6906" me. But ye say|strong="H0559", Wherein have we robbed|strong="H6906" thee? In tithes|strong="H4643" and offerings|strong="H8641".
9 Ye are cursed|strong="H0779" with a curse|strong="H3994": for ye have robbed|strong="H6906" me, even this whole nation|strong="H1471".
10 Bring|strong="H0935" ye all the tithes|strong="H4643" into the storehouse|strong="H0214", that there may be meat|strong="H2964" in mine house|strong="H1004", and prove|strong="H0974" me now herewith|strong="H2063", saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* of hosts|strong="H6635", if I will not open|strong="H6605" you the windows|strong="H0699" of heaven|strong="H8064", and pour you out|strong="H7324" a blessing|strong="H1293", that there shall not be room enough|strong="H1767" to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke|strong="H1605" the devourer|strong="H0398" for your sakes, and he shall not destroy|strong="H7843" the fruits|strong="H6529" of your ground|strong="H0127"; neither shall your vine|strong="H1612" cast her fruit|strong="H7921" before the time in the field|strong="H7704", saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* of hosts|strong="H6635".
12 And all nations|strong="H1471" shall call you blessed|strong="H0833": for ye shall be a delightsome|strong="H2656" land|strong="H0776", saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* of hosts|strong="H6635".
13 Your words|strong="H1697" have been stout|strong="H2388" against me, saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*. Yet ye say|strong="H0559", What have we spoken|strong="H1696" so much against thee?
14 Ye have said|strong="H0559", It is vain|strong="H7723" to serve|strong="H5647" God|strong="H0430": and what profit|strong="H1215" is it that we have kept|strong="H8104" his ordinance|strong="H4931", and that we have walked|strong="H1980" mournfully|strong="H6941" before|strong="H6440" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* of hosts|strong="H6635"?
15 And now we call|strong="H0833" the proud|strong="H2086" happy|strong="H0833"; yea, they that work|strong="H6213" wickedness|strong="H7564" are set up|strong="H1129"; yea, they that tempt|strong="H0974" God|strong="H0430" are even delivered|strong="H4422".
16 Then they that feared|strong="H3373" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* spake often|strong="H1696" one|strong="H0376" to another|strong="H7453": and the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* hearkened|strong="H7181", and heard|strong="H8085" it, and a book|strong="H5612" of remembrance|strong="H2146" was written|strong="H3789" before|strong="H6440" him for them that feared|strong="H3373" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, and that thought|strong="H2803" upon his name|strong="H8034".
17 And they shall be mine, saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* of hosts|strong="H6635", in that day|strong="H3117" when I make up|strong="H6213" my jewels|strong="H5459"; and I will spare|strong="H2550" them, as a man|strong="H0376" spareth|strong="H2550" his own son|strong="H1121" that serveth|strong="H5647" him.
18 Then shall ye return|strong="H7725", and discern|strong="H7200" between the righteous|strong="H6662" and the wicked|strong="H7563", between him that serveth|strong="H5647" God|strong="H0430" and him that serveth|strong="H5647" him not.