4. The offerings from Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the past, as in years long ago.
5. “I will come to judge you. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers, lying witnesses, and those who cheat workers out of their wages and oppress widows and orphans. I will also testify against those who deprive foreigners of their rights. None of them fear me,” says the Lord of Armies.
6. “I, the Lord, never change. That is why you descendants of Jacob haven’t been destroyed yet.
7. Since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my laws and have not followed them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Armies.“But you ask, ‘How can we return?’
8. “Can a person cheat God? Yet, you are cheating me!“But you ask, ‘How are we cheating you?’“When ⌊you don’t bring⌋ a tenth of your income and other contributions.
9. So a curse is on you because the whole nation is cheating me!
10. “Bring one-tenth of your income into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I won’t open the windows of heaven for you and flood you with blessings.
11. Then, for your sake, I will stop insects from eating ⌊your crops⌋. They will not destroy the produce of your land. The vines in your fields will not lose their unripened grapes,” says the Lord of Armies.
12. “All nations will call you blessed because you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of Armies.
13. “You have used harsh words against me,” says the Lord.“You ask, ‘How have we spoken against you?’
14. “You have said, ‘It’s pointless to serve God. What do we gain if we meet his standards or if we walk around feeling sorry for what we’ve done?