MALACHI 1

God’s Love for Jacob

1 Theoracle (burdensome message) of the word of the Lordto Israel through [My messenger] Malachi.

2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord.But you say, “Howandin what way have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I loved Jacob (Israel);

3 but [in comparison with My love for Jacob] I have hated Esau (Edom), and I have made his mountains a wasteland, andhave givenhis inheritance to the jackals of the wilderness.”

4 Though [impoverished] Edom says, “We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins.” Thus says the Lordof hosts, “They may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the Wicked Territory, the people against whom the Lordis indignant forever.”

5 Your own eyes will see this and you will say, “The Lordis greatandshall be magnified beyond the border of Israel!”

Sin of the Priests

6 “ ‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is the [reverent] fearandrespect due Me?’ says the Lordof hosts to you, O priests, who despise My name. But you say, ‘Howandin what way have we despised Your name?’

7 You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ By thinking that the table of the Lordis contemptibleandmay be despised.

8 When you [priests] present theblind [animals] for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and the sick, is it not evil? Offer such a thing [as a blind or lame or sick animal] to your governor [as a gift or as payment for your taxes]. Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you graciously?” says the Lordof hosts.

9 “But now will you not entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering from your hand [as an imperfect animal for sacrifice], will He show favor to any of you?” says the Lordof hosts.

10 “Oh, that there were even one among you [whose duty it is to minister to Me] who would shut the gates, so that you would not kindlefire onMy altar uselessly [with an empty, worthless pretense]! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lordof hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from your hand.

11 Forfrom the rising of the sun, even to its setting, My name shall be great among the nations. In every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name shall be great among the nations,” says the Lordof hosts.

12 “But you [priests] profane it when you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’

13 You also say, ‘How tiresome this is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says the Lordof hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery, and the lame or the sick [animals]; this you bring as an offering! Should I receive it with pleasure from your hand?” says the Lord.

14 “But cursed is the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows [to offer] it, but sacrifices to the Lord a blemishedordiseased thing! For I am a great King,” says the Lordof hosts, “and My name is to be [reverently and greatly] feared among the nations.”

MALACHI 2

Priests to Be Disciplined

1 “Now, O priests, this commandment is for you.

2 If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the Lordof hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings [on the people]. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.

3 Behold, I am going to rebuke your seed, and I will spread the refuse on your faces, the refuse from the festival offerings; and you will be taken away with it [in disgrace].

4 Then you will know [without any doubt] that I have sent this [new] commandment to you (priests), that My covenant may continue with Levi [the priestly tribe],” says the Lordof hosts.

5 “My covenant with Levi was [one of] life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he [and the priests] feared Me and stood in reverent awe of My name.

6 True instruction was in Levi’s mouth and injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from wickedness.

7 For the lips of the priest should guardandpreserve knowledge [of My law], and the people should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lordof hosts.

8 But as for you [priests], you have turned from the way and you have caused many to stumble by your instruction [in the law]. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the Lordof hosts.

9 “So I have also made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality [to people] in [your administration of] the law.”

Sin in the Family

10 Do we not all have one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers [with God]?

11 Judah has been treacherous (disloyal), and an repulsive act has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lordwhich He loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.

12 As for the man who does this, may the Lordcut off from the tents of Jacob to the last man those who do this [evil thing], awake and aware, even the one who brings an offering to the Lordof hosts.

13 This is another thing you do: you cover the altar of the Lordwith tears, with [your own] weeping and sighing, because the Lordno longer regards your offering or accepts it with favor from your hand.

14 But you say, “Why [does He reject it]?” Because the Lordhas been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously. Yet she is your marriage companion and the wife of your covenant [made by your vows].

15 But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And what did that one do while seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth.

16 “For I hatedivorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrongandviolence,” says the Lordof hosts. “Therefore keep watch on your spirit, so that you do not deal treacherously [with your wife].”

17 You have wearied the Lordwith your words. But you say, “In what way have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them,” or [by asking], “Where is the God of justice?”

MALACHI 3

The Purifier

1 “Behold, I am going to send Mymessenger, and he will prepareandclear the way before Me. And the Lord [the Messiah], whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; theMessenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lordof hosts.

2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s soap [which removes impurities and uncleanness].

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 the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lordas in the days of old and as in ancient years.

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, andagainstthose who turn away the alien [from his right], and those who do not fear Me [with awe-filled reverence],” says the Lordof hosts.

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 “Yet from the days of your fathers you have turned away from My statutesandordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lordof hosts. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’

You Have Robbed God

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].

9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, this whole nation!

10 Bring all the tithes (the tenth) into thestorehouse, so that there may befood in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lordof hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you [so great] a blessing until there is no more room to receive it.

11 Then I will rebuke thedevourer (insects, plague) for your sake and he will not destroy the fruits of the ground, nor will your vine in the field dropits grapes[before harvest],” says the Lordof hosts.

12 “All nations shall call you happyandblessed, for you shall be a land of delight,” says the Lordof hosts.

13 “Your words have been harsh against Me,” says the Lord. “But you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’

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 Lordof hosts?

15 ~‘So now we call the arrogant happyandblessed. Evildoers are exaltedandprosper; and when they test God, they escape [unpunished].’”

The Book of Remembrance

16 Then those who feared the Lord[with awe-filled reverence] spoke to one another; and the Lordpaid 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 “They will be Mine,” says the Lordof hosts, “on that day when I publicly recognize themandopenly declare them to be My own possession [that is, My very special treasure]. And I will have compassion on themandspare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.”

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.

MALACHI 4

Final Admonition

1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant (proud, self-righteous, haughty), and every evildoer shall be stubble; and the day that is coming shall set them on fire,” says the Lordof hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.

2 But for you who fear My name [with awe-filled reverence] the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go forward and leap [joyfully] like calves [released] from the stall.

3 You will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,” says the Lordof hosts.

4 “Remember [with thoughtful concern] the Law of Moses My servant, the statutes and the ordinances which I commanded him on [Mount] Horeb [to give] to all Israel.

5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.

6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers [a reconciliation produced by repentance], so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse [of complete destruction].”

ZECHARIAH 1

A Call to Repentance

1 Inthe eighth month of the second year [of the reign] ofDarius [the king of Persia], the word of the Lordcame to Zechariah (the Lordremembers) the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying,

2 “The Lordwas extremely angry with your fathers.

3 Therefore say to the Jews, ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts (armies), “Return to Me,” declares the Lordof hosts, “and I shall return to you.

4 Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts, “Repent [that is, change your way of thinking]andreturn now from your evil way [of life] and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or pay attention to Me,” declares the Lord.

5 “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?

6 But did not My words (warnings) and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? Then they repented and said, ‘As the Lordof hosts planned to do to us [in discipline and punishment], in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so has He dealt with us.’”’”

Patrol of the Earth

7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month (Feb 15, 519b.c.), which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of [the reign of] Darius, the word of the Lordcame to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, as follows:

8 In the night I saw [a vision] and behold, aMan was riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees that were in the ravine; and behind Him were horses: red, sorrel (reddish-brown), and white.

9 Then I said, “O my lord, what are these?” And theangel who was speaking with me said, “I will show you what these are.”

10 And the Man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are the ones whom the Lordhas sent to go throughout the earthandpatrol it.”

11 And the men on the horses answered theAngel of the Lordwho stood among the myrtle trees and said, “We have gone throughout the earth [patrolling it] and behold, all the earth sits at rest [in peace and free from war].”

12 Then the Angel of the Lordsaid, “O Lordof hosts, how long will You withhold mercyandcompassion from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which You have had indignationandanger these seventy years [of the Babylonian captivity]?”

13 And the Lordanswered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious and comforting words.

14 So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “Proclaim, ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts, “I am jealous [with a burning, fiery passion] for Jerusalem and for Zion [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine] with a great jealousy.

15 But I am very angry with thenations who are at easeandfeel secure; for while I was only a little angry, theyfurthered the disaster [against the people of Israel].”

16 ~‘Therefore, thus says the Lord, “I have returned to Jerusalem with mercyandcompassion. My house shall be built in it,” says the Lordof hosts, “and ameasuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”’

17 Proclaim again, ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts, “My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the Lordshall again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”’”

18 Then I looked up, and saw four horns (powers)!

19 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he answered me, “These are the horns [the powerful Gentile nations] that have scattered Judah (the Southern Kingdom), Israel (the Northern Kingdom), and Jerusalem (capital city of Judah).”

20 Then the Lordshowed me four craftsmen.

21 I asked, “What are these [horns and craftsmen] coming to do?” And he said, “These are the horns (powers) that have scattered Judah so that no man raised up his head [because of the suffering inflicted by the Gentile nations]. But thesecraftsmenhave come to terrify themandmake them panic, and throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.”

ZECHARIAH 2

God’s Favor to Zion

1 And I looked up, and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.

2 So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.”

3 And behold, the angel who was speaking with me was going out, and another angel was coming out to meet him,

4 and he said to the second angel, “Run, speak to that young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited [like villages] without walls [spreading out into the open country] because of the great number of people and livestock in it.

5 ~‘For I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire around her [protecting her from enemies], and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

6 “Hear this! Flee from [Babylon] the land of the north [which shall come under judgment],” declares the Lord, “for I have scattered you like the four winds of the heavens,” declares the Lord.

7 “Hear, Zion (Jerusalem)! Escape,you who are living with the daughter of Babylon!”

8 For thus says the Lordof hosts, “Afterglory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you–for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.

9 Behold, I will wave my hand over them and they shall become plunder for their own slaves. Then you shall know (recognize, understand fully) that the Lordof hosts has sent Me.

10 Sing for joy and rejoice, O Daughter of Zion; for behold, I am coming, and I will dwell in your midst,” declares the Lord.

11 Many nations shall join themselves to the Lordin that day and shall be My people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know (recognize, understand fully) that the Lordof hosts has sent Me to you.

12 The Lordwill take possession of Judah as His portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.

13 “Be still before the Lord, all mankind; for He is roused (raised up) from His holy habitation [in response to His persecuted people].”

ZECHARIAH 3

Joshua, the High Priest

1 Then the guiding angel showed me Joshua the high priest [representing disobedient, sinful Israel] standing before theAngel of the Lord, and Satan standing at Joshua’s right hand to be his adversaryandto accuse him.

2 And the Lordsaid to Satan, “The Lordrebuke you, Satan! Even the Lord, who [now and ever] has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is this not alog snatchedandrescued from the fire?”

3 Now Joshua was clothed withfilthy (nauseatingly vile) garments and was standing before the Angel [of the Lord].

4 He spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And He said to Joshua, “See, I have caused your wickedness to be taken away from you, and I will clotheandbeautify you with rich robes [of forgiveness].”

5 And I (Zechariah) said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with [rich] garments. And the Angel of the Lordstood by.

6 And the Angel of the Lord[solemnly and earnestly] admonished Joshua, saying,

7 “Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways [that is, remain faithful] and perform My service, then you will also govern My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you free access [to My presence] among these who are standing here.

The Branch

8 ~‘Now listen, Joshua, the high priest, you and your colleagues who are sitting in front of you–indeed they are men who are a symbol [of what is to come]–for behold, I am going to bring in My servant theBranch [in Messianic glory].

9 ~‘For behold, thestone which I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes (symbolizing infinite intelligence, omniscience). Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the Lordof hosts, ‘and I will remove the wickednessandguilt of this land in a single day.

10 ~‘In that day,’ declares the Lordof hosts, ‘every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and his fig tree [enjoying peace and prosperity in the kingdom].’”

ZECHARIAH 4

The Golden Lampstand and Olive Trees

1 And the angel who was speaking with me came back and awakened me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep.

2 He said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, alampstand all of gold, with its bowl [for oil] on the top of it and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it.

3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side [supplying it continuously with oil].”

4 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”

5 Then the angel who was speaking with me answered me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

6 Then he said to me, “This [continuous supply of oil] is the word of the Lordto Zerubbabel [prince of Judah], saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit [of whom the oil is a symbol],’ says the Lordof hosts.

7 ‘What are you, O great mountain [of obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel [who will rebuild the temple]you will becomea plain (insignificant)! And he will bring out the capstone [of the new temple] with loud shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”

8 Also the word of the Lordcame to me, saying,

9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundations of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know (recognize, understand fully) that the Lordof hosts has sent me [as His messenger] to you.

10 Who [with reason] despises the day of small things (beginnings)? For theseseven [eyes] shall rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lordwhich roam throughout the earth.”

11 Then I said to him [who was speaking with me], “What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lampstand and on its left?”

12 And a second time I said to him, “What are these two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes by which the golden oil is emptied?”

13 And he answered me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

14 Then he said, “These are the twosons of fresh oil [Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the prince of Judah] who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth [as His anointed ones].”

ZECHARIAH 5

The Flying Scroll

1 Again I looked up, and I saw a scroll flyingin the air!

2 And the angel said to me, “What do you see?” And I answered, “I see aflying scroll; its length is twenty cubits (thirty feet) and its width is ten cubits (fifteen feet).”

3 Then he said to me, “This is the curse that is going out over the face of the whole land; for everyone who steals will be cut off according to the writing on one side, and everyone who swears [oaths falsely] shall be cut off according to the writing on the other side.

4 I will send the curse out,” declares the Lordof hosts, “and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name; and it will spend the night in that house and consume it, both its timber and its stones.”

5 Then the angel who was speaking with me came forward and said to me, “Now look up and see what this is going forth.”

6 And I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is theephah (grain basket) going forth. This,” he continued, “is their appearance throughout the land

7 (and behold, a [round, flat] leadcover was lifted up); and there sat a woman inside the ephah.”

8 Then he said, “This is Wickedness (Godlessness)!” And he threw her back down into the middle of the ephah and threw the lead cover on its opening.

9 Then I looked up, and there were two women coming out with the wind in their wings; and they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heavens.

10 I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “Where are they taking the ephah?”

11 And he said to me, “To the land of Shinar (Babylon) to build a temple for her; and when it is prepared,she shall be set there on her own pedestal.”

ZECHARIAH 6

The Four Chariots

1 Now again I looked up, andfour chariots were coming out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of [firm, immovable] bronze (divine judgment).

2 The first chariot had red horses (war, bloodshed), the second chariot had black horses (famine, death),

3 the third chariot had white horses (victory), and the fourth chariot had strong dappled horses (death through judgment).

4 Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”

5 The angel answered me, “These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go out after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth,

6 with the chariot with the black horses going toward the north country; then the one with the white horses follows after them [because there are two northern powers to overcome], and the chariot with the dappled horses goes toward the south country.”

7 When the strong horses went out, they were eager to patrol the earth. And the Lordsaid, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth [watching and protecting it].

8 Then He called out to me and said to me, “See, those who are going to the north country have quieted My Spirit [of wrath] in the north country.”

9 The word of the Lordalso came to me, saying,

10 “Takean offeringfrom the exiles, from Heldai, from Tobijah, and from Jedaiah [as representatives]; and you go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have arrived from Babylon.

The Symbolic Crowns

11 Take silver and gold [from them], and make anornatecrown and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.

12 Then say to Joshua, ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts, “Behold (look, keep in sight, watch), a Man (Messiah) whose name is Branch, for He shall branch out from His place (Israel, the Davidic line); and He shall build the [ultimate] temple of the Lord.

13 Yes, [you are to build a temple of the Lord, but] it is He who shall build the [ultimate] temple of the Lord, and He shall bear the honorandmajesty [as the only begotten of the Father] and sit and rule on His throne. And He shall be aPriest on His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between the two offices [Priest and King].”’

14 Now the crown shall become a reminder in the temple of the Lordto Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah.

15 And those who are far away will come and [help] build the temple of the Lord.” Then you shall know [without any doubt] that the Lordof hosts sent me (Zechariah) to you. And it will come about if you will diligently obey the [voice of the] Lordyour God.