6. I am the Lord, and I do not change;and you, children of Jacob, have not perished.
7. Ever since the time of your ancestors,you have deviated from my lawsand have not kept them.Return to me and I will return to you,says the Lord of heavenly forces.But you say,"How should we return?"
8. Should a person deceive God?Yet you deceive me.But you say,"How have we deceived you?"With your tenth-part gifts and offerings.
9. You are being cursed with a curse,and you, the entire nation, are robbing me.
10. Bring the whole tenth-part to the storage house so there might be food in my house.Please test me in this,says the Lord of heavenly forces.See whether I do not open all the windows of the heavens for youand empty out a blessing until there is enough.
11. I will threaten the one who wants to devour youso that it doesn’t spoil the fruit of your fertile land,and so that the vine doesn’t abort its fruit in your field,says the Lord of heavenly forces.
12. All the nations will consider you fortunate,for you will be a desirable land,says the Lord of heavenly forces.
13. You have spoken harshly about me,says the Lord;but you say,"What have we spoken about you?"
14. You said,"Serving God is useless.What do we gain by keeping his obligationor by walking around as mournersbefore the Lord of heavenly forces?
15. So now we consider the arrogant fortunate.Moreover, those doing evil are built up;they test God and escape."
16. Then those revering the Lord,each and every one, spoke among themselves.The Lord paid attention and listened to them.Then a scroll of remembrance was written before the Lordabout those revering the Lord,the ones meditating on his name.
17. On the day that I am preparing,says the Lord of heavenly forces,they will be my special possession.I will spare them just as parents spare a child who serves them.