Toledot
This translation was taken from the JPS Tanakh.
Malachi 1:1-2:7
Chapter 1
1 A pronouncement: The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.
2 I have shown you love, said the Lord. But you ask, “How have You shown us love?” After all-declares the Lord-Esau is Jacob’s brother; yet I have accepted Jacob 3 and have rejected Esau. I have made his hills a desolation, his territory a home for beasts of the desert. 4 If Edom thinks, “Though crushed, we can build the ruins again,” thus said the Lord of Hosts: They may build, but I will tear down. And so they shall be known as the region of wickedness, the people damned forever of the Lord. 5 Your eyes shall behold it, and you shall declare, “Great is the Lord beyond the borders of Israel!”
6 A son should honor his father, and a slave his master. Now if I am a father, where is the honor due Me? And if I am a master, where is the reverence due Me?-said the Lord of Hosts to you, O priests who scorn My name. But you ask, “How have we scorned Your name?” 7 You offer defiled food on My altar. But you ask, “How have we defiled You?” By saying, “The table of the Lord can be treated with scorn.” 8 When you present a blind animal for sacrifice-it doesn’t matter! When you present a lame or sick one-it doesn’t matter! Just offer it to your governor: Will he accept you? Will he show you favor?-said the Lord of Hosts. 9 And now implore the favor of God! Will He be gracious to us? This is what you have done-will He accept any of you?
The Lord of Hosts has said: 10 If only you would lock My doors, and not kindle fire on My altar to no purpose! I take no pleasure in you-said the Lord of Hosts-and I will accept no offering from you. 11 For from where the sun rises to where it sets, My name is honored among the nations, and everywhere incense and pure oblation are offered to My name; for My name is honored among the nations-said the Lord of Hosts. 12 But you profane it when you say, “The table of the Lord is defiled and the meat, the food, can be treated with scorn.” 13 You say, “Oh, what a bother!” And so you degrade it-said the Lord of Hosts-and you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; and you offer such as an oblation. Will I accept it from you?-said the Lord.
14 A curse on the cheat who has an [unblemished] male in his flock, but for his vow sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord! For I am a great King-said the Lord of Hosts-and My name is revered among the nations.
Chapter 2
1 And now, O priests, this charge is for you: 2 Unless you obey and unless you lay it to heart, and do honor to My name-said the Lord of Hosts-I will send a curse and turn your blessings into curses. (Indeed, I have turned them into curses, because you do not lay it to heart.) 3 I will put your seed under a ban, and I will strew dung upon your faces, the dung of your festal sacrifices, and you shall be carried out to its [heap]. 4 Know, then, that I have sent this charge to you that My covenant with Levi may endure-said the Lord of Hosts. 5 I had with him a covenant of life and well-being, which I gave to him, and of reverence, which he showed Me. For he stood in awe of My name.
6 Proper rulings were in his mouth, And nothing perverse was on his lips; He served Me with complete loyalty And held the many back from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest guard knowledge, And men seek rulings from his mouth; For he is a messenger of the Lord of Hosts.
Taken from Tanakh, The Holy Scriptures, (Philadelphia, Jerusalem: Jewish Publication Society) 1985.
Used by permission of The Jewish Publication Society. Copyright © 1962, 1992
Third Edition by the Jewish Publication Society.
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