Malachi 1:2

1:2 “I have shown love to you,” says the Lord, but you say, “How have you shown love to us?”

“Esau was Jacob’s brother,” the Lord explains, “yet I chose Jacob

Malachi 1:9

1:9 But now plead for God’s favor ¹  that he might be gracious to us. ²  “With this kind of offering in your hands, how can he be pleased with you?” asks the Lord who rules over all.

Malachi 2:4

2:4 Then you will know that I sent this commandment to you so that my covenant ³  may continue to be with Levi,” says the Lord who rules over all.

Malachi 2:8

2:8 You, however, have turned from the way. You have caused many to violate the law; ⁴  you have corrupted the covenant with Levi,” ⁵  says the Lord who rules over all.

Malachi 3:7

3:7 From the days of your ancestors you have ignored ⁶  my commandments ⁷  and have not kept them! Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord who rules over all. “But you say, ‘How should we return?’

Malachi 3:11

3:11 Then I will stop the plague ⁸  from ruining your crops, ⁹  and the vine will not lose its fruit before harvest,” says the Lord who rules over all.

Malachi 4:3

4:3 You will trample on the wicked, for they will be like ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the Lord who rules over all.

¹ tn Heb “seek the face of God.”

² tn After the imperative, the prefixed verbal form with vav conjunction indicates purpose (cf. NASB, NRSV).

¹ sn My covenant refers to the priestly covenant through Aaron and his grandson Phinehas (see Exod 6:16-20; Num 25:10-13; Jer 33:21-22). The point here is to contrast the priestly ideal with the disgraceful manner in which it was being carried out in postexilic times.

¹ tn The definite article embedded within בַּתּוֹרָה (battorah) may suggest that the Torah is in mind and not just “ordinary” priestly instruction, though it might refer to the instruction previously mentioned (v. 7).

² tn Or “the Levitical covenant.”

¹ tn Heb “turned aside from.”

² tn Or “statutes” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV); NIV “decrees”; NLT “laws.”

¹ tn Heb “the eater” (אֹכֵל, ’okhel), a general term for any kind of threat to crops and livelihood. This is understood as a reference to a locust plague by a number of English versions: NAB, NRSV “the locust”; NIV “pests”; NCV, TEV “insects.”

² tn Heb “and I will rebuke for you the eater and it will not ruin for you the fruit of the ground.”