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| 3 | Malachi |
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| 1 |
"Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me, and Yahweh whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says Yahweh of hosts. | |
| 2 |
But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? " For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; | |
| 3 |
he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to Yahweh. | |
| 4 |
Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to Yahweh as in the days of old and as in former years. | |
| 5 |
"Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says Yahweh of hosts. | |
| 6 |
"For I Yahweh do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. | Payment of tithes. Mal.3.6-12 |
| 7 |
From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says Yahweh of hosts. But you say, 'How shall we return?' | |
| 8 |
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How are we robbing you?' In your tithes and offerings. | |
| 9 |
You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me; the whole nation of you. | |
| 10 |
Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says Yahweh of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. | |
| 11 |
I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says Yahweh of hosts. | |
| 12 |
Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says Yahweh of hosts. | |
| 13 |
"Your words have been stout against me, says Yahweh. Yet you say, 'How have we spoken against you?' | God's promise of mercy. Mal.3.13-18 |
| 14 |
You have said, 'It is vain to serve God. What is the good of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before Yahweh of hosts? | |
| 15 |
Henceforth we deem the arrogant blessed; evildoers not only prosper but when they put God to the test they escape.' " | |
| 16 |
Then those who feared Yahweh spoke with one another; Yahweh heeded and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared Yahweh and thought on his name. | |
| 17 |
"They shall be mine, says Yahweh of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. | |
| 18 |
Then once more you shall distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him. | |
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