Preparation For the Lord

1Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold, he shall come, says the LORD of hosts.

2But who may endure the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appears? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

3And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

4Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

5And I will come near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner from his right, and fear not me, says the LORD of hosts.

God Is Robbed of Tithes and Offerings

6For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed.

7Even from the days of your fathers you have gone away from my ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, How shall we return?

8Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, How have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings.

9You are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed me, even this whole nation.

10Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

11And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast its fruit before the time in the field, said the LORD of hosts.

12And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightful land, says the LORD of hosts.

Complaint Will Turn to Faithfulness

13Your words have been strong against me, says the LORD. Yet you say, What have we spoken so much against you?

14You have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked in mourning before the LORD of hosts?

15And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are raised up; yea, they that test God are even delivered.

16Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

17And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him.

18Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not.