3 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. 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: 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. 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. 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. 6 For
I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 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? 8 Will
a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed
thee? In tithes and offerings.
9
Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 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. 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. 12 And
all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land,
saith 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? 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? 15 And
now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up;
yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. 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. 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. 18 Then
shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between
him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.