1. This is the Lord's message to Israel through Malachi.
2. "Israel, I have loved you," says the Lord. "But you ask, 'How have you loved us?' "Wasn't Esau Jacob's brother?" says the Lord. "But I chose Jacob
3. instead of Esau. I turned Esau's mountains into a dry and empty land. I left that land of Edom to the wild dogs in the desert."
4. Edom might say, "We have been crushed. But we'll rebuild our cities." The Lord who rules over all says, "They might rebuild their cities. But I will destroy them. They will be called The Evil Land. My anger will always remain on them.
5. You will see it with your own eyes. You will say, 'The Lord is great! He rules even beyond the borders of Israel!'
6. "A son honors his father. A servant honors his master. If I am a father, where is the honor I should have? If I am a master, where is the respect you should give me?" says the Lord who rules over all. "You priests look down on me. "But you ask, 'How have we looked down on you?'
7. "You put 'unclean' food on my altar. "But you ask, 'How have we made you "unclean?" ' "You do it by looking down on my altar.
8. You sacrifice blind animals to me. Isn't that wrong? You sacrifice disabled or sick animals. Isn't that wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the Lord who rules over all.
9. "Now you dare to ask me to show you my favor! But as long as you give offerings like those, how can I accept you?" says the Lord.