1Behold, I will send7971 my messenger4397, and he shall prepare6437 the way1870 before6440 me: and the Lord113, whom ye seek1245, shall suddenly6597 come935 to his temple1964, even the messenger4397 of the covenant1285, whom ye delight2655 in: behold, he shall come935, saith559 the LORD3068 of hosts6635.
2But who may abide3557 the day3117 of his coming935? and who shall stand5975 when he appeareth7200? for he is like a refiner's6884 fire784, and like fullers'3526 soap1287:
3And he shall sit3427 as a refiner6884 and purifier2891 of silver3701: and he shall purify2891 the sons1121 of Levi3878, and purge2212 them as gold2091 and silver3701, that they may offer5066 unto the LORD3068 an offering4503 in righteousness6666.
4Then shall the offering4503 of Judah3063 and Jerusalem3389 be pleasant6149 unto the LORD3068, as in the days3117 of old5769, and as in former6931 years8141.
5And I will come near7126 to you to judgment4941; and I will be a swift4116 witness5707 against the sorcerers3784, and against the adulterers5003, and against false8267 swearers7650, and against those that oppress6231 the hireling7916 in his wages7939, the widow490, and the fatherless3490, and that turn aside5186 the stranger1616 from his right, and fear3372 not me, saith559 the LORD3068 of hosts6635.
6For I am the LORD3068, I change8138 not; therefore ye sons1121 of Jacob3290 are not consumed3615.
7Even from the days3117 of your fathers1 ye are gone away5493 from mine ordinances2706, and have not kept8104 them. Return7725 unto me, and I will return7725 unto you, saith559 the LORD3068 of hosts6635. But ye said559, Wherein shall we return7725?
8Will a man120 rob6906 God430? Yet ye have robbed6906 me. But ye say559, Wherein have we robbed6906 thee? In tithes4643 and offerings8641.
9Ye are cursed779 with a curse3994: for ye have robbed6906 me, even this whole nation1471.
10Bring935 ye all the tithes4643 into the storehouse214, that there may be meat2964 in mine house1004, and prove974 me now herewith2063, saith559 the LORD3068 of hosts6635, if I will not open6605 you the windows699 of heaven8064, and pour you out7324 a blessing1293, that there shall not be room enough1767 to receive it.
11And I will rebuke1605 the devourer398 for your sakes, and he shall not destroy7843 the fruits6529 of your ground127; neither shall your vine1612 cast her fruit7921 before the time in the field7704, saith559 the LORD3068 of hosts6635.
12And all nations1471 shall call you blessed833: for ye shall be a delightsome2656 land776, saith559 the LORD3068 of hosts6635.
13Your words1697 have been stout2388 against me, saith559 the LORD3068. Yet ye say559, What have we spoken1696 so much against thee?
14Ye have said559, It is vain7723 to serve5647 God430: and what profit1215 is it that we have kept8104 his ordinance4931, and that we have walked1980 mournfully6941 before6440 the LORD3068 of hosts6635?
15And now we call833 the proud2086 happy833; yea, they that work6213 wickedness7564 are set up1129; yea, they that tempt974 God430 are even delivered4422.
16Then they that feared3373 the LORD3068 spake often1696 one376 to another7453: and the LORD3068 hearkened7181, and heard8085 it, and a book5612 of remembrance2146 was written3789 before6440 him for them that feared3373 the LORD3068, and that thought2803 upon his name8034.
17And they shall be mine, saith559 the LORD3068 of hosts6635, in that day3117 when I make up6213 my jewels5459; and I will spare2550 them, as a man376 spareth2550 his own son1121 that serveth5647 him.
18Then shall ye return7725, and discern7200 between the righteous6662 and the wicked7563, between him that serveth5647 God430 and him that serveth5647 him not.