Commentary on Malachi 2, Chapter 3
THE THIRD CHAPTER OF THE PROPHET MALACHY.
BEhold, I will ſend my meſſenger, and he ſhall prepare the way before me: and the Lord whom ye ſeek, ſhall ſpeedily come to his Temple: even the meſſenger of the Covenant whom ye deſire: behold, he ſhall come, ſaith the Lord of hoſts.
2 But who may abide the day of his comming? and who ſhall endure, when he appeareth? for he is like purging fire, and like fullers ſope.
3 And he ſhall ſit down to trie and fine the ſilver: he ſhall even fine the ſons of Levi, and purifie them as gold and ſilver, that they may bring offerings unto the Lord in-righteouſnes.
4 Then ſhall the offerings of Juda and Jeruſalem be acceptable unto the Lord, as in old time, and in the yeers afore.
5 And I will come neer to you to judgement, and I will be a ſwift witneſſe againſt the ſoothſayers, and againſt the adulterers, and againſt falſe ſwearers, and againſt thoſe that wrongfully keep backe the hirelings wages, and vex the widow and the fatherleſſe, and oppreſſe the ſtranger, and feare not me, ſaith the Lord of hoſts.
6 For I am the Lord: I change not, and ye ſons of Jaacob are not confirmed.
7 From the daies of your fathers, yee are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them: returne unto me, and I will returne unto you, ſaith the Lord of hoſts: but ye ſaid, wherein ſhall we returne?
8 Will a man ſpoyle his gods? yet have ye ſpoyled me: but ye ſay, Wherein have we ſpoyled thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are curſed with a curſe: for ye have ſpoyled me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the ſtorehouſe, that there may be meat in mine houſe, and proove me now herewith, ſaith the Lord of hoſts, if I will not open the windows of heaven unto you, and powre you out a bleſſing without meaſure.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your ſakes, and he ſhall not deſtroy the fruit of your ground, neither ſhall your vine be barten in the field, ſaith the Lord of hoſts.
12 And all nations ſhall call you bleſſed: for ye ſhall be a pleaſant land, ſaith the Lord of hoſts.
13 Your words have been ſtout againſt me, ſaith the Lord: yet ye ſay, What have we ſpoken againſt thee?
14 Ye have ſaid, It is in vaine to ſerve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his commandement, and that we walked humbly before the Lord of hoſts?
15 Therefore we count the proud bleſſed: even they that worke wickedneſſe are ſet up, and they that tempt God, yea, they are delivered.
16 Then ſpake they that ſeared the Lord, every one to his neighbour, and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a booke of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his Name.
17 And they ſhall be to me, ſaith the Lord of hoſts, in that day that I ſhall do this, for a flocke, and I will ſpare them as a man ſpareth his own ſon that ſerveth him.
18 Then ſhall you returne, and diſcerne between the righteous and the wicked: between him that ſerveth God, and him that ſerveth him not.