1 Behold, I am sending my messenger, and he will clear a way before Me. And suddenly the Lord whom you are seeking will come to His temple, and the messenger of the covenant whom you are desiring {haphetsim: delighting in}, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts {YHWH Tsevaot, Commander of Armies}.
2 But who can endure the day when He arrives, and who can stand firm at His appearing {heraot: divine unveiling}? For He {YHWH, Just Judge} is like a refiner’s fire and like the soap used by launderers.
3 He will take His seat as one who refines and purifies silver; He will cleanse the sons of Levi and refine them as gold and silver, and they will become for the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Purifier} those who bring an offering in righteousness {tzedakah: just conduct}.
4 Then Judah’s offering, and Jerusalem’s, will be acceptable to the LORD {YHWH, Receiver of Worship} as it was in earlier days {olam: remote past}, in years long past.
5 And I will come close to you to render judgment {mishpat: legal decision}; I will quickly testify as a witness against sorcerers, adulterers, and those who swear falsely, and against those who withhold a hired worker’s wages, those who oppress the widow and the orphan, those who push the sojourner aside, and those who do not fear Me, says the LORD of hosts {YHWH Tzevaot, Commander of Armies}.
6 Because I, the LORD {YHWH, Unchanging One}, do not change {shaniti: altered state}, you sons of Jacob have not come to an end.
7 Since the days of your fathers you have turned away from My statutes {chukkai: covenant decrees} and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts {YHWH Tsevaot, Commander of Armies}. Yet you say, "How are we to return?"
8 Will a man rob God {Elohim, Righteous Owner}? For you are robbing Me. But you say, “How have we robbed You?” In the tithe {ma’aser: one-tenth portion} and the offering.
9 You are bound under a curse, because you are robbing Me {YHWH, Righteous Judge}—the entire nation {goy: national community}.
10 “Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse {ha’otsar: temple repository} so that there may be provision in My house; and try Me in this,” says the LORD of hosts {YHWH, Commander of Armies}, “if I fail to open for you the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing until there is no lack.”
11 And I will rebuke the devourer {okhel: consuming force} for you so that it will not ruin the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field will not drop its fruit before the season, says the LORD of hosts {YHWH Tsevaot, Commander of Armies}.
12 All the nations will speak of you as blessed, for you will be a land that brings delight {chefets: precious treasure}, declares the LORD of hosts {YHWH Tsevaot, Divine Commander}.
13 "You have spoken forcefully{divreikhem: spoken declarations} against Me," says the LORD{YHWH, Rebuking Judge}, "yet you say, 'What have we said against You?'"
14 You have said, “Serving God {Elohim, Transcendent Ruler} is empty, and what gain is there in keeping His charge {mishmar: entrusted responsibility} and in walking in mourning before the LORD of hosts {YHWH Tzva’ot, Sovereign Commander}?”
15 And now we say that the arrogant are blessed; those who practice wickedness not only stand secure—they even test God {Elohim, Righteous Judge} and still get away {yimmaletu: slip away unharmed}.
16 Then those who feared the LORD {YHWH, Faithful Observer} spoke with one another, each one with his friend. The LORD listened attentively and heard, and a book of remembrance {zikaron: record of deeds} was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and for those who esteem His name.
17 They will be Mine, says the LORD of hosts {YHWH Tsevaot, Commander of Armies}, in the day when I make up My special possession {segullah: treasured property}; and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.
18 Then you will return and discern the division between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God {Elohim, Supreme Judge} and the one who does not serve {avado: deliberate refusal} Him.