Malachi 1:10

1:10 “I wish that one of you would close the temple doors, 1  so that you no longer would light useless fires on my altar. I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord who rules over all, “and I will no longer accept an offering from you.

Malachi 2:2

2:2 If you do not listen and take seriously 2  the need to honor my name,” says the Lord who rules over all, “I will send judgment 3  on you and turn your blessings into curses – indeed, I have already done so because you are not taking it to heart.

Malachi 3:5

3:5 “I 4  will come to you in judgment. I will be quick to testify against those who practice divination, those who commit adultery, those who break promises, 5  and those who exploit workers, widows, and orphans, 6  who refuse to help 7  the immigrant 8  and in this way show they do not fear me,” says the Lord who rules over all.

1 sn The rhetorical language suggests that as long as the priesthood and people remain disobedient, the temple doors may as well be closed because God is not “at home” to receive them or their worship there.

2 tn Heb “and if you do not place upon [the] heart”; KJV, NAB, NRSV “lay it to heart.”

3 tn Heb “the curse” (so NASB, NRSV); NLT “a terrible curse.”

4 tn The first person pronoun (a reference to the Lord) indicates that the Lord himself now speaks (see also v. 1). The prophet speaks in vv. 2-4 (see also 2:17).

5 tn Heb “those who swear [oaths] falsely.” Cf. NIV “perjurers”; TEV “those who give false testimony”; NLT “liars.”

6 tn Heb “and against the oppressors of the worker for a wage, [the] widow and orphan.”

7 tn Heb “those who turn aside.”

8 tn Or “resident foreigner”; NIV “aliens”; NRSV “the alien.”