Treachery of Infidelity

10 pHave we not all one Father?

qHas not one God created us?

Why do we deal treacherously with one another

By profaning the covenant of the fathers?

11 Judah has dealt treacherously,

And an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem,

For Judah has rprofaned

The Lord’s holy institution which He loves:

He has married the daughter of a foreign god.

12 May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob

The man who does this, being 4awake and aware,

Yet swho brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!

13 And this is the second thing you do:

You cover the altar of the Lord with tears,

With weeping and crying;

So He does not regard the offering anymore,

Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.

14 Yet you say, “For what reason?”

Because the Lord has been witness

Between you and tthe wife of your youth,

With whom you have dealt treacherously;

uYet she is your companion

And your wife by covenant.

15 But vdid He not make them one,

Having a remnant of the Spirit?

And why one?

He seeks wgodly offspring.

“Therefore take heed to your spirit,

And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.

16 “For xthe Lord God of Israel says

That He hates divorce,

For it covers one’s garment with violence,”

Says the Lord of hosts.

Therefore take heed to your spirit,

That you do not deal treacherously.”

17 yYou have wearied the Lord with your words;

“Yet you say,

“In what way have we wearied Him?”

In that you say,

z“Everyone who does evil

Is good in the sight of the Lord,

And He delights in them,”

Or, “Where is the God of justice?”

The Coming Messenger

3 “Behold, aI send My messenger,

And he will bprepare the way before Me.

And the Lord, whom you seek,

Will suddenly come to His temple,

cEven the Messenger of the covenant,

In whom you delight.

Behold, dHe is coming,”

Says the Lord of hosts.

2 “But who can endure ethe day of His coming?

And fwho can stand when He appears?

For gHe is like a refiner’s fire

And like launderers’ soap.

3 hHe will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;

He will purify the sons of Levi,

And 1purge them as gold and silver,

That they may ioffer to the Lord

An offering in righteousness.

4 “Then jthe offering of Judah and Jerusalem

Will be 2pleasant to the Lord,

As in the days of old,

As in former years.

5 And I will come near you for judgment;

I will be a swift witness

Against sorcerers,

Against adulterers,

kAgainst perjurers,

Against those who lexploit wage earners and mwidows and orphans,

And against those who turn away an alien—

Because they do not fear Me,”

Says the Lord of hosts.

6 “For I am the Lord, nI do not change;

oTherefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

7 Yet from the days of pyour fathers

You have gone away from My ordinances

And have not kept them.

qReturn to Me, and I will return to you,”

Says the Lord of hosts.

r“But you said,

‘In what way shall we return?’

Do Not Rob God

8 “Will a man rob God?

Yet you have robbed Me!

But you say,

‘In what way have we robbed You?’

sIn tithes and offerings.

9 You are cursed with a curse,

For you have robbed Me,

Even this whole nation.

10 tBring all the tithes into the ustorehouse,

That there may be food in My house,

And try Me now in this,”

Says the Lord of hosts,

“If I will not open for you the vwindows of heaven

And wpour out for you such blessing

That there will not be room enough to receive it.

11 “And I will rebuke xthe devourer for your sakes,

So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,

Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”

Says the Lord of hosts;

12 And all nations will call you blessed,

For you will be ya delightful land,”

Says the Lord of hosts.