1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
1 “(A)Behold, I am going to send (B)My (a)messenger, and he will (b)(C)clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; (c)and the (d)(D)messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.
1 “See, I am going to send My messenger,(A) and he will clear the way before Me.(B) Then the Lord you seek(C) will suddenly come to His temple,(D) the Messenger of the covenant you desire—see, He is coming,” says the Lord of Hosts.
1 "Watch out! I'm sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly, the LORD you are looking for will come to his Temple. He is the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Watch out! He is coming!" says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
2 “But who can (E)endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a (F)refiner’s fire and like (e)fullers’ soap.
2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who will be able to stand when He appears?(E) For He will be like a refiner’s fire(F) and like cleansing lye.(G)
2 But who will survive the day when he comes? Or who can stand when he appears? Because he's like a refiner's fire and a launderer's soap,
3 And 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.
3 He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will (G)purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may (H)present to the Lord (f)offerings in righteousness.
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.(H) Then they will present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.
3 he will sit refining and purifying silver, purifying the descendants of Levi, refining them like gold and silver. Then they'll bring a righteous offering to the LORD.
3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi [the priests], and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord [grain] offerings in righteousness.
4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
4 Then the (g)offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be (I)pleasing to the Lord as in the (J)days of old and as in former years.
4 And the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord as in days of old(I) and years gone by.
4 Then the offering to the LORD by Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable as it was in the past, even as in former years.
4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in ancient years.
5 And I will come near to you to 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 stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the (K)sorcerers and against the (L)adulterers and against those who (M)swear falsely, and against those who oppress the (N)wage earner in his wages, the (O)widow and the (h)orphan, and those who turn aside the (i)(P)alien and do not (j)fear Me,” says the Lord of hosts.
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 widow and the fatherless, and cheat the wage earner; and against those who deny justice to the foreigner.(J) They do not fear Me,”(K) says the Lord of Hosts.
5 "I'll come near to you for judgment. I'll be a witness, quick to speak against sorcerers, against adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who defraud the laborer of his wage, against those who defraud the widow and the orphan, against those who deprive the alien of justice, and against those who don't fear me," says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.
5 “Then I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, and against those who oppress the laborer in his wages and widows and the fatherless, and against those who turn away the alien [from his right], and those who do not fear Me [with awe-filled reverence],” says the Lord of hosts.(C)
6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
6 "Because I the LORD don't change; therefore you children of Jacob aren't destroyed."
6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change [but remain faithful to My covenant with you]; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, have not come to an end.
7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
7 “From the (R)days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. (S)Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
7 “Since the days of your fathers, you have turned from My statutes; you have not kept them.(N) Return to Me,(O) and I will return to you,”(P) says the Lord of Hosts.But you ask: “How can we return?”
7 "Ever since the time of your ancestors, you have turned away from my decrees and haven't kept them. Return to me and I'll return to you," says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies. "But you ask, "How will we return?'
7 “Yet from the days of your fathers you have turned away from My statutes and ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
8 “Will a man (m)rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In (T)tithes and (n)offerings.
8 “Will a man rob(Q) God? Yet you are robbing Me!”You ask: “How do we rob You?”“By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions.(R)
8 "Will a person rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you ask, "How are we robbing you?' "By the tithe and the offering.
8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings [you have withheld].
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith 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.
10 (V)Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be (p)food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not (W)open for you the windows of heaven and (X)pour out for you a blessing until (q)(Y)it overflows.
10 Bring the full tenth into the storehouse(S) so that there may be food in My house.(T) Test Me in this way,”(U) says the Lord of Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven(V) and pour out a blessing for you without measure.(W)
10 "Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. So put me to the test in this right now," says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, "and see if I won't throw open the windows of heaven for you and pour out on you blessing without measure.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
11 Then I will rebuke the (Z)devourer for you, so that it will not (r)destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the Lord of hosts.
11 I will rebuke the devourer(a)(X) 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 Lord of Hosts.
11 And I'll prevent the devourer from harming you, so that he does not destroy the crops of your land. Nor will the vines in your fields drop their fruit," says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
12 “(AA)All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a (AB)delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.
12 “Then all the nations will consider you fortunate, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of Hosts.
12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight," says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.
12 “All nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight,” says the Lord of hosts.
13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
13 “Your words have been (s)arrogant against Me,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’
13 “Your words against Me are harsh,”(Y) says the Lord.Yet you ask: “What have we spoken against You?”
13 "You have spoken arrogant words against me," says the LORD. "Yet you ask, "What did we say against you?'
13 “Your words have been harsh against Me,” says the Lord. “But you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’
14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
14 You have said, ‘It is (AC)vain to serve God; and what (AD)profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in mourning before the Lord of hosts?
14 You have said: “It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements(Z) and walking mournfully(AA) before the Lord of Hosts?
14 You said, "It is futile to serve God,' and, "What did we get out of it when we carried out his requirements and went about like mourners in the presence of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies?'
14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. What profit is it if we keep His ordinances, and walk around like mourners before the Lord of hosts?
15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
15 So now we (AE)call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up but they also test God and (AF)escape.’”
15 So now we consider the arrogant(AB) to be fortunate.(AC) Not only do those who commit wickedness prosper, they even test God(AD) and escape.”(AE)
15 and, "Now we call the arrogant one blessed. Those who do evil prosper and those who challenge God escape the consequences.'"
15 So now we call the arrogant happy and blessed. Evildoers are exalted and prosper; and when they test God, they escape [unpunished].’”
16 Then they that feared the LORD spake 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.
16 Then those who (t)feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord (AG)gave attention and heard it, and a (AH)book of remembrance was written before Him for those who (u)fear the Lord and who esteem His name.
16 At that time those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. The Lord took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance(AF) was written before Him for those who feared Yahweh and had high regard for His name.
16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other. The LORD listened and took note, and a scroll of remembrance was written in his presence about those who fear the LORD and honor His name.
16 Then those who feared the Lord [with awe-filled reverence] spoke to one another; and the Lord paid attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who fear the Lord [with an attitude of reverence and respect] and who esteem His name.
17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
17 “They will be (AI)Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on the (AJ)day that I (v)prepare My (w)(AK)own possession, and I will (x)spare them as a man (y)(AL)spares his own son who serves him.”
17 “They will be Mine,” says the Lord of Hosts,(AG) “a special possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.(AH)
17 "They'll be mine," says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, "in the day when I prepare my treasured possession. I'll spare them, just as a man spares his own son who serves him.
17 “They will be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on that day when I publicly recognize them and openly declare them to be My own possession [that is, My very special treasure]. And I will have compassion on them and spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.”
18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
18 So you will again (AM)distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.
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.
18 When you return, you will see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, and between the one who serves God and the one who does not."
18 Then you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not serve Him.
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