1. This is the message that the Lord gave Malachi to tell the people of Israel.
2. The Lord says to his people, “I have always loved you.”But they reply, “How have you shown your love for us?”The Lord answers, “Esau and Jacob were brothers, but I have loved Jacob and his descendants,
3. and have hated Esau and his descendants. I have devastated Esau's hill country and abandoned the land to jackals.”
4. If Esau's descendants, the Edomites, say, “Our towns have been destroyed, but we will rebuild them,” then the Lord will reply, “Let them rebuild — I will tear them down again. People will call them ‘The evil country’ and ‘The nation with whom the Lord is angry for ever.’ ”