\id MAL - Christian Standard Bible® in English
\ide UTF-8
\rem Copyright © 2017-2020 by Holman Bible Publishers
\rem Language: English
\rem Text update February 2024
\toc3 Mal
\toc2 Malachi
\toc1 Malachi
\mt Malachi
\c 1
\s1 The \nd Lord\nd*’s Love for Israel
\m
\v 1 A pronouncement:~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:1 \ft \+xt Is 13:1; Zch 9:1; 12:1\+xt*\f*
\p The word of the \nd Lord\nd*~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:1 \ft \+xt Hs 1:1; Jl 1:1; Mc 1:1; Zph 1:1\+xt*\f* to Israel through~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:1 \ft \+xt Jr 37:2; Hg 1:1\+xt*\f* Malachi.~\f + \cat (III)\cat* \fr 1:1 \ft = My Messenger\f*
\p
\v 2 “I have loved you,”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:2 \ft \+xt Dt 4:37; 7:6–8; 10:14–15; Neh 13:26; Ps 78:68\+xt*\f* says the \nd Lord\nd*.
\p Yet you ask, “How have you loved us?~”
\p “Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?~”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:2 \ft \+xt Gn 25:25–26; 36:19\+xt*\f* This is the \nd Lord\nd*’s declaration. “Even so, I loved Jacob,
\v 3 but I hated Esau.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:3 \ft \+xt Gn 25:23; Rm 9:10–13\+xt*\f* I turned his mountains into a wasteland, and gave his inheritance to the desert jackals.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:3 \ft \+xt Is 34:5–17; Jr 49:7–22; Ezk 35:1–15\+xt*\f*
\p
\v 4 Though Edom says, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 1:4 \ft Or \fqa will return and build\f* the ruins,” the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says this: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called a wicked country~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:4 \ft \+xt Mal 3:12,15\+xt*\f* and the people the \nd Lord\nd* has cursed~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 1:4 \ft Or \fqa \+nd Lord\+nd* is angry with\f* forever.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:4 \ft \+xt Is 34:5–17; Jr 49:17–18; Mal 1:14; 2:2; 3:9; 4:6\+xt*\f*
\v 5 Your own eyes will see this, and you yourselves will say, ‘The \nd Lord\nd* is great, even beyond~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 1:5 \ft Or \fqa great over\f* the borders of Israel.’~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:5 \ft \+xt Ps 67:1–7; 72:8–11; Ezk 39:7; Zch 12:1–10; Rm 11:11–12\+xt*\f*
\s1 Disobedience of the Priests
\m
\v 6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of me?~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:6 \ft \+xt 1Sm 2:30; Dn 5:23; Hg 1:8\+xt*\f* says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies to you priests, who despise my name.”
\p Yet you ask, “How have we despised your name?~”
\p
\v 7 “By presenting defiled food on my altar.”
\p “How have we defiled you?~” you ask.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:7 \ft \+xt Ezk 22:26\+xt*\f*
\p When you say, “The \nd Lord\nd*’s table is contemptible.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:7 \ft \+xt Ezk 41:22; 44:16\+xt*\f*
\p
\v 8 “When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong?~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:8 \ft \+xt Lv 22:18–25; Dt 15:21; 17:1\+xt*\f* Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?~” asks the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\v 9 “And now plead for God’s favor. Will he be gracious to us?~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:9 \ft \+xt 1Sm 13:12; Pr 19:6; Dn 9:13\+xt*\f* Since this has come from your hands, will he show any of you favor?~”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:9 \ft \+xt Nm 6:25–26\+xt*\f* asks the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\v 10 “I wish one of you would shut the temple doors,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:10 \ft \+xt 2Ch 28:24\+xt*\f* so that you would no longer kindle a useless fire on my altar!~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:10 \ft \+xt Pr 1:17; Is 1:14\+xt*\f* I am not pleased with you,” says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies, “and I will accept~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:10 \ft \+xt Lv 22:19–21\+xt*\f* no offering from your hands.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:10 \ft \+xt Is 1:10–17; Jr 6:20; Am 5:21–23; Mc 6:6–8\+xt*\f*
\p
\v 11 “My name will be great among the nations,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:11 \ft \+xt Ps 113:3; Is 45:6; 59:19; Mt 8:11\+xt*\f* from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 1:11 \ft Or \fqa Burnt offerings\f* and pure offerings will be presented in my name in every place because my name will be great among the nations,”~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 1:11 \ft Or \fqa is great .~.~. are presented .~.~. is great\f* says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\p
\v 12 “But you are profaning it~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:12 \ft \+xt Lv 22:2; Ezk 13:19; 22:26; 36:20–23; Mal 2:10–11\+xt*\f* when you say, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled, and its product, its food, is contemptible.’
\v 13 You also say, ‘Look, what a nuisance!~’ And you scorn~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 1:13 \ft Lit \fqa blow at\f* it,”~\f + \cat (I)\cat* \fr 1:13 \ft Alt Hb tradition reads \fqa me\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:13 \ft \+xt 1Sm 2:29\+xt*\f* says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies. “You bring stolen,~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 1:13 \ft Or \fqa injured\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:13 \ft \+xt 2Sm 24:24\+xt*\f* lame, or sick animals. You bring this as an offering! Am I to accept that from your hands?~” asks the \nd Lord\nd*.
\p
\v 14 “The deceiver is cursed who has an acceptable male in his flock and makes a vow but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:14 \ft \+xt Lv 22:18–25; 27:9–10; Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21–23; Ec 5:4–7\+xt*\f* For I am a great King,” says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies, “and my name will be feared among the nations.
\c 2
\s1 Warning to the Priests
\m
\v 1 “Therefore, this decree~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:1 \ft \+xt Nah 1:14\+xt*\f* is for you priests:
\v 2 If you don’t listen, and if you don’t take it to heart~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:2 \ft \+xt Is 42:25; 57:1; Jr 12:11\+xt*\f* to honor my name,” says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:2 \ft \+xt Dt 28:20; Pr 3:33; 28:27; Mal 3:9\+xt*\f* In fact, I have already begun to curse them because you are not taking it to heart.
\p
\v 3 “Look, I am going to rebuke your descendants,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:3 \ft \+xt Hs 4:6–8\+xt*\f* and I will spread animal waste~\f + \cat (III)\cat* \fr 2:3 \ft Dung or entrails\f* over your faces, the waste from your festival sacrifices,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:3 \ft \+xt Ex 29:14; Lv 16:27\+xt*\f* and you will be taken away with it.
\v 4 Then you will know that I sent you this decree, so that my covenant with Levi~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:4 \ft \+xt Nm 25:11–13; Dt 10:8; 33:8–11; Neh 13:29; Jr 33:17–22\+xt*\f* may continue,” says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\v 5 “My covenant with him was one of life and peace,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:5 \ft \+xt 1Sm 25:6; Pr 3:2\+xt*\f* and I gave these to him; it called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:5 \ft \+xt Mal 1:6\+xt*\f*
\v 6 True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:6 \ft \+xt Gn 5:22,24; 6:9; Mc 6:8\+xt*\f* in peace and integrity and turned many from iniquity.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:6 \ft \+xt Is 53:6; Jr 23:22; Ezk 3:19–20\+xt*\f*
\v 7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should desire instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:7 \ft \+xt 2Ch 36:15–16; Hg 1:13\+xt*\f*
\p
\v 8 “You, on the other hand, have turned from the way.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:8 \ft \+xt Ex 32:8; Dt 31:29; Mal 3:7\+xt*\f* You have caused many to stumble~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:8 \ft \+xt Pr 4:16; Is 8:14–15; Hs 14:1\+xt*\f* by your instruction. You have violated~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 2:8 \ft Lit \fqa corrupted\f* the covenant of Levi,” says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\v 9 “So I in turn have made you despised~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:9 \ft \+xt Mal 1:6–7\+xt*\f* and humiliated before all the people because you are not keeping my ways but are showing partiality in your instruction.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:9 \ft \+xt Lv 19:15; Dt 10:17; Ps 82:2; Mt 22:16; 1Tm 5:21; Jms 2:1,9\+xt*\f*
\s1 Judah’s Marital Unfaithfulness
\m
\v 10 Don’t all of us have one Father?~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:10 \ft \+xt Ex 4:22–23; Is 63:16; Hs 11:1; Mal 1:6; Jn 8:41\+xt*\f* Didn’t one God create us?~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:10 \ft \+xt Dt 32:6; Is 43:1–7; 64:8\+xt*\f* Why then do we act treacherously against one another,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:10 \ft \+xt Ex 21:8; Jdg 9:23; Jb 6:15; Is 21:2; Jr 3:20\+xt*\f* profaning~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:10 \ft \+xt Nm 30:2; Ps 55:20; 89:34; Mal 1:12\+xt*\f* the covenant of our ancestors?~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:10 \ft \+xt 1Kg 8:21\+xt*\f*
\v 11 Judah has acted treacherously, and a detestable~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:11 \ft \+xt Lv 18:22–30; Ezr 9:1–14; Neh 13:4–9\+xt*\f* act has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:11 \ft \+xt Jr 16:18; Ezk 44:7\+xt*\f* the \nd Lord\nd*’s sanctuary,~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 2:11 \ft Or \fqa profaned what is holy to the \+nd Lord\+nd*\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:11 \ft \+xt Ex 36:1–6; Zph 3:4\+xt*\f* which he loves,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:11 \ft \+xt Ps 78:68–69\+xt*\f* and has married the daughter of a foreign god.~\f + \cat (III)\cat* \fr 2:11 \ft = a woman who worshiped a foreign god\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:11 \ft \+xt Dt 7:3–4; Ezr 9:1–2,10–14; Neh 13:23–30\+xt*\f*
\v 12 May the \nd Lord\nd* cut off~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:12 \ft \+xt Ex 12:19; 31:14\+xt*\f* from the tents of Jacob the man who does this, whoever he may be,~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 2:12 \ft Hb obscure\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:12 \ft \+xt Ru 4:10; 1Sm 24:21\+xt*\f* even if he presents an offering to the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\p
\v 13 This is another thing you do. You are covering the \nd Lord\nd*’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:13 \ft \+xt Ps 6:6–10\+xt*\f* because he no longer respects your offerings or receives them gladly from your hands.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:13 \ft \+xt 1Kg 8:28–30; Is 56:7\+xt*\f*
\p
\v 14 And you ask, “Why?~” Because even though the \nd Lord\nd* has been a witness~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:14 \ft \+xt Gn 31:50–53; Jdg 11:10; 1Sm 12:5\+xt*\f* between you and the wife of your youth,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:14 \ft \+xt Pr 2:16–17; 5:18; Is 54:6\+xt*\f* you have acted treacherously against her. She was your marriage partner~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:14 \ft \+xt Ec 4:10\+xt*\f* and your wife by covenant.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:14 \ft \+xt Ezk 16:8,59–62; Hs 2:16–20\+xt*\f*
\v 15 Didn’t God make them one and give them a portion of spirit? What is the one seeking?~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 2:15 \ft Hb obscure\f* Godly offspring. So watch yourselves carefully,~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 2:15 \ft Lit \fqa So guard yourselves in your spirit\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:15 \ft \+xt Ex 23:13; Jos 23:11\+xt*\f* so that no one acts treacherously against the wife of his~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 2:15 \ft Lit \fqa your\f* youth.
\p
\v 16 “If he hates~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:16 \ft \+xt Gn 29:31; Dt 21:15–17; 22:13,16; Jdg 15:2; Pr 30:23\+xt*\f* and divorces his wife,”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:16 \ft \+xt Dt 24:1–4\+xt*\f* says the \nd Lord\nd* God of Israel, “he~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 2:16 \ft Or \fqa The \+nd Lord\+nd* God of Israel says that he hates divorce and the one who\f* covers his garment with injustice,”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:16 \ft \+xt Gn 6:11,13; Ps 73:6; Jr 22:3; Hab 1:2–3\+xt*\f* says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies. Therefore, watch yourselves carefully,~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 2:16 \ft Lit \fqa Therefore, guard yourselves in your spirit\f* and do not act treacherously.
\s1 Judgment at the \nd Lord\nd*’s Coming
\m
\v 17 You have wearied the \nd Lord\nd*~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:17 \ft \+xt Is 43:22–24\+xt*\f* with your words.
\p Yet you ask, “How have we wearied him?~”
\p When you say, “Everyone who does what is evil is good in the \nd Lord\nd*’s sight, and he is delighted with them,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:17 \ft \+xt Dt 25:16; Mal 3:15\+xt*\f* or else where is the God of justice?~”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:17 \ft \+xt Neh 9:33; Is 40:27\+xt*\f*
\c 3
\m
\v 1 “See, I am going to send my messenger,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:1 \ft \+xt Ex 23:20; 33:2; 2Ch 36:15–16\+xt*\f* and he will clear the way before me.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:1 \ft \+xt Is 40:3; Mk 1:2; Lk 1:76\+xt*\f* Then the Lord you seek~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:1 \ft \+xt Hs 5:6\+xt*\f* will suddenly come to his temple,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:1 \ft \+xt Ps 24:7–10\+xt*\f* the Messenger of the covenant you delight in~#—~#see, he is coming,” says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\v 2 But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will be able to stand when he appears?~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:2 \ft \+xt Rv 6:17\+xt*\f* For he will be like a refiner’s fire~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:2 \ft \+xt Dt 4:24; Is 1:25; Zch 13:9\+xt*\f* and like launderer’s bleach.~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 3:2 \ft Lit \fqa cleansing agent\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:2 \ft \+xt Jr 2:22\+xt*\f*
\v 3 He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:3 \ft \+xt Ps 12:6; Pr 17:3; Ezk 22:22\+xt*\f* Then they will present offerings to the \nd Lord\nd* in righteousness.
\v 4 And the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the \nd Lord\nd* as in days of old~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:4 \ft \+xt Am 9:11\+xt*\f* and years gone by.
\p
\v 5 “I will come to you in judgment, and I will be ready to witness against sorcerers and adulterers; against those who swear falsely; against those who oppress the hired worker, the widow, and the fatherless; and against those who deny justice to the resident alien.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:5 \ft \+xt Ex 20:14,16; 22:18–24; Dt 18:10; 24:14,17; Jr 5:2,7; 7:6,9\+xt*\f* They do not fear me,”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:5 \ft \+xt Dt 10:17–20; Mal 2:5\+xt*\f* says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\v 6 “Because I, the \nd Lord\nd*, have not changed,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:6 \ft \+xt Nm 23:19; 1Sm 15:29; Ps 33:11; 119:89–91; Rm 11:29; Heb 6:17–18; Jms 1:17\+xt*\f* you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 3:6 \ft Or \fqa Because I, the \+nd Lord\+nd*, do not change, you descendants of Jacob are not destroyed\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:6 \ft \+xt Ps 124; Hs 11:9\+xt*\f*
\s1 Robbing God
\m
\v 7 “Since the days of your ancestors, you have turned from my statutes; you have not kept them.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:7 \ft \+xt Jos 1:7; 23:6; 1Kg 8:58; 2Kg 17:15; Ezr 9:7; Am 2:4; Mal 2:8\+xt*\f* Return to me,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:7 \ft \+xt Dt 4:30; 30:2; 2Ch 30:6,9; Is 55:7; Jl 2:13; Zch 1:3\+xt*\f* and I will return to you,”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:7 \ft \+xt 1Kg 8:33; Jr 15:19; 24:7\+xt*\f* says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\p Yet you ask, “How can we return?~”
\p
\v 8 “Will a man rob~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:8 \ft \+xt Pr 22:22–23\+xt*\f* God? Yet you are robbing me!~”
\p “How do we rob you?~” you ask.
\p “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:8 \ft \+xt Lv 7:14,32–33; 27:30–32; Nm 18:8–24; Dt 12:5–19; 14:22–29; 26:12\+xt*\f*
\v 9 You are suffering under a curse, yet~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 3:9 \ft Or \fqa because\f* you~#—~#the whole nation~#—~#are still robbing me.
\v 10 Bring the full tenth into the storehouse~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:10 \ft \+xt Jos 6:19,24; 1Kg 7:51\+xt*\f* so that there may be food in my house.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:10 \ft \+xt 2Ch 31:4–10; Neh 10:34–39; Ezk 44:28–31\+xt*\f* Test me in this way,”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:10 \ft \+xt Ex 4:1–9; Jdg 6:36–40\+xt*\f* says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:10 \ft \+xt Gn 7:11; 8:2; Dt 11:16–17\+xt*\f* and pour out a blessing for you without measure.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:10 \ft \+xt Dt 28:12; Is 41:18–20; Jl 2:18–32; Am 9:13–15\+xt*\f*
\v 11 I will rebuke the devourer~\f + \cat (III)\cat* \fr 3:11 \ft Perhaps locusts\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:11 \ft \+xt Jl 1:4; 2:25\+xt*\f* for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your land and your vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\v 12 “Then all the nations will consider you fortunate, for you will be a delightful land,” says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\s1 The Righteous and the Wicked
\m
\v 13 “Your words against me are harsh,”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:13 \ft \+xt Ps 119:23; Ezk 35:13\+xt*\f* says the \nd Lord\nd*.
\p Yet you ask, “What have we spoken against you?~”
\p
\v 14 You have said, “It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping his requirements~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:14 \ft \+xt Lv 8:35; Dt 11:1\+xt*\f* and walking mournfully~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:14 \ft \+xt Ps 35:14; 38:6\+xt*\f* before the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies?
\v 15 So now we consider the arrogant~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:15 \ft \+xt Ps 119:21,85; Is 13:11; Jr 43:2\+xt*\f* to be fortunate.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:15 \ft \+xt Gn 30:13; Ps 72:17; Pr 31:28\+xt*\f* Not only do those who commit wickedness prosper, they even test God~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:15 \ft \+xt Ps 78:18,41,56; 95:9\+xt*\f* and escape.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:15 \ft \+xt Ezk 17:15\+xt*\f*
\p
\v 16 At that time those who feared the \nd Lord\nd* spoke to one another. The \nd Lord\nd* took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:16 \ft \+xt Ex 32:32; Est 6:1; Dn 12:1\+xt*\f* was written before him for those who feared the \nd Lord\nd* and had high regard for his name.
\v 17 “They will be mine,” says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:17 \ft \+xt Ex 19:5; Dt 7:6; 14:2; 26:18; Ps 135:4\+xt*\f* “my own possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:17 \ft \+xt Ps 103:13; Jl 2:18; Zch 11:5–6\+xt*\f*
\v 18 So you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
\c 4
\s1 The Day of the \nd Lord\nd*
\m
\v 1 “For look, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and everyone who commits wickedness will become stubble. The coming day will consume them,” says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies, “not leaving them root or branches.
\v 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 4:2 \ft \+xt Ps 37:6; Is 58:8\+xt*\f* and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall.~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 4:2 \ft Or \fqa like stall-fed calves\f*
\v 3 You will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing,” says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\s1 A Final Warning
\m
\v 4 “Remember the instruction of Moses my servant, the statutes and ordinances I commanded him at Horeb~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 4:4 \ft \+xt Dt 4:10,15; 5:2\+xt*\f* for all Israel.
\v 5 Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 4:5 \ft \+xt Mt 11:13–14\+xt*\f* before the great and terrible day of the \nd Lord\nd* comes.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 4:5 \ft \+xt Jl 2:31; Ac 2:20\+xt*\f*
\v 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 4:6 \ft \+xt Lk 1:17\+xt*\f* Otherwise, I will come and strike the land~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 4:6 \ft Or \fqa earth\f* with a curse.”
