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 theLORDof hosts.
But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for heislike a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
And he shall sitasa 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 theLORDan offering in righteousness.
Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto theLORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
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 inhiswages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the strangerfrom his right, and fear not me, saith theLORDof hosts.
For IamtheLORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not keptthem. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith theLORDof hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Yearecursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me,eventhis whole nation.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith theLORDof hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, thatthere shallnotbe roomenoughto receive it.
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 theLORDof hosts.
And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith theLORDof hosts.
Your words have been stout against me, saith theLORD. Yet ye say, What have we spokenso muchagainst thee?
Ye have said, Itisvain to serve God: and what profitis itthat we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before theLORDof hosts?
And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea,they thattempt God are even delivered.
Then they that feared theLORDspake often one to another: and theLORDhearkened, and heardit, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared theLORD, and that thought upon his name.
And they shall be mine, saith theLORDof 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.
Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.