1"Behold,I am going to sendMy messenger,and he will clearthe waybeforeMe. And the Lord,whomyou seek,will suddenlycometo His temple;and the messengerof the covenant,in whomyou delight,behold,He is coming,"saysthe LORDof hosts.2"But whocan endurethe dayof His coming?And whocan standwhen He appears?For He is like a refiner'sfireand like fullers'soap.3"He will sitas a smelterand purifierof silver,and He will purifythe sonsof Leviand refinethem like goldand silver,so that they may presentto the LORDofferingsin righteousness.4"Then the offeringof Judahand Jerusalemwill be pleasingto the LORDas in the daysof oldand as in formeryears.
5"Then I will drawnearto you for judgment;and I will be a swiftwitnessagainst the sorcerersand against the adulterersand against those who swearfalsely,and against those who oppressthe wageearnerin his wages,the widowand the orphan,and those who turnasidethe alienand do not fearMe," saysthe LORDof hosts.6"For I, the LORD,do not change;therefore you, O sonsof Jacob,are not consumed.
7"From the daysof your fathersyou have turnedasidefrom My statutesand have not kept[them]. Returnto Me, and I will returnto you," saysthe LORDof hosts."But you say,'Howshall we return?'
8"Will a manrobGod?Yetyou are robbingMe! But you say,'Howhave we robbedYou?' In tithesand offerings.9"You are cursedwith a curse,for you are robbingMe, the wholenation[of you]!10"Bringthe wholetitheinto the storehouse,so that there may be foodin My house,and testMe nowin this,"saysthe LORDof hosts,"ifI will not openfor you the windowsof heavenand pourout for you a blessinguntilit overflows.11"Then I will rebukethe devourerfor you, so that it will not destroythe fruitsof the ground;norwill your vinein the fieldcast[its grapes]," saysthe LORDof hosts.12"Allthe nationswill callyou blessed,for you shall be a delightfulland,"saysthe LORDof hosts.
13"Your wordshave beenarrogantagainstMe," saysthe LORD."Yet you say,'Whathave we spokenagainstYou?'14"You have said,It is vainto serveGod;and whatprofitis it that we have keptHis charge,and that we have walkedin mourningbeforethe LORDof hosts?15So nowwe callthe arrogantblessed;not onlyare the doersof wickednessbuiltup but they alsotestGodand escape.'"
16Thenthose who fearedthe LORDspoketo oneanother,and the LORDgaveattentionand heard[it], and a bookof remembrancewas writtenbeforeHim for those who fearthe LORDand who esteemHis name.17"They will be Mine," saysthe LORDof hosts,"on the daythat I prepare[My] own possession,and I will sparethem as a manspareshis own sonwho serveshim."18So you will againdistinguishbetweenthe righteousand the wicked,betweenone who servesGodand one whodoes not serveHim.
