1. The Lord of heaven’s armies says, “I will send my messenger. He will prepare the way for me to come. Suddenly, the Lord you are looking for will come to his Temple. The messenger of the agreement, whom you want, will come.”
2. No one can live through that time. No one can survive when he comes. He will be like a purifying fire. He will be like laundry soap.
3. He will be like someone who heats and purifies silver. He will purify the Levites. He will make them pure like gold and silver. Then they will bring offerings to the Lord in the right way.
4. And he will accept the offerings from Judah and Jerusalem. It will be as it was in the past.
5. The Lord of heaven’s armies says, “Then I will come to you and judge you. I will testify against those who take part in evil magic, adultery and lying. I will testify against those who cheat workers of their pay and who cheat widows and orphans. And I will testify against those who are unfair to foreigners. These people do not respect me.
6. “I am the Lord. I do not change. So you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.