1. Now I am sending my messenger—he will prepare the way before me;And the lord whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple;The messenger of the covenant whom you desire—see, he is coming! says the Lord of hosts.
2. But who can endure the day of his coming?Who can stand firm when he appears?For he will be like a refiner’s fire,like fullers’ lye.
3. He will sit refining and purifying silver,and he will purify the Levites,Refining them like gold or silver,that they may bring offerings to the Lord in righteousness.
4. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalemwill please the Lord,as in ancient days, as in years gone by.
5. I will draw near to you for judgment,and I will be swift to bear witnessAgainst sorcerers, adulterers, and perjurers,those who deprive a laborer of wages,Oppress a widow or an orphan,or turn aside a resident alien,without fearing me, says the Lord of hosts.
6. For I, the Lord, do not change,and you, sons of Jacob, do not cease to be.
7. Since the days of your ancestors you have turned asidefrom my statutes and have not kept them.Return to me, that I may return to you,says the Lord of hosts.But you say, “Why should we return?”