1. I, the Lord All-Powerful,will send my messengerto prepare the way for me.Then suddenly the Lordyou are looking forwill appear in his temple.The messenger you desireis coming with my promise,and he is on his way.
2. On the day the Lord comes, he will be like a furnace that purifies silver or like strong soap in a washbasin. No one will be able to stand up to him.
3. The Lord will purify the descendants of Levi, as though they were gold or silver. Then they will bring the proper offerings to the Lord,
4. and the offerings of the people of Judah and Jerusalem will please him, just as they did in the past.
5. The Lord All-Powerful said:I'm now on my way to judge you. And I will quickly condemn all who practise witchcraft or cheat in marriage or tell lies in court or rob workers of their pay or ill-treat widows and orphans or steal the property of foreigners or refuse to respect me.
6. Descendants of Jacob, I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I never change. That's why you haven't been wiped out,
7. even though you have ignored and disobeyed my laws ever since the time of your ancestors. But if you return to me, I will return to you.And yet you ask, “How can we return?”
8. You people are robbing me, your God. And, here you are, asking, “How are we robbing you?”You are robbing me of the offerings and of the ten per cent that belongs to me.
9. That's why your whole nation is under a curse.