Malachi reproveth the people.

Before CHRIST cir. 397.

8 Lev. 10. 11.

Deut. 17. 9, 10. & 24. 8. Ezra 7. 10. Jer. 18. 18. Hag. 2. 11, 12.

b Gal. 4. 14.

7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye i have caused many to || stumble at the

The messenger, &c. of Christ.

CHAPTER III.

1 Of the messenger, majesty, and grace of Christ. 7 Of the rebellion, 8 sacrilege, 13 and infidelity of the people. 16 The promise of blessing to them that fear God.

a

k

1 Sam. 2. 17. Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

Jer. 18. 15.

|| Or, fall in the law.

Neh. 13. 29.

1

9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the peo1 Sam. 2. 30. ple, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

|| Or, lifted up the face against.

+ Heb accepted faces.

1 Cor. 8. 6. Ephes. 4. 6. " Job 31. 15.

|| Or, ought to love.

• Ezra 9. 1.

& 10. 2.

Neh. 13. 23.

12 The LORD will cut off the man that Or, him that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.

waketh, and him that answereth.

P Neh. 13. 28, 29.

9 Prov. 5. 18. Prov. 2. 17.

⚫ Matt.19.4,5. I] Or, excellency. +Heb. a seed of God.

¡ Ezra 9. 2.

1 Cor. 7. 14. Or unfaith

fully. "Deut. 24. 1. Matt. 5. 32. & 19. 8.

|| Or, if he

13 And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.

q

14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because T the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy cove

nant.

15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek ta godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal || treacherously against the wife of his youth.

16 For "the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth † putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take + Heb. to put heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

hate her, put her away.

2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' sope:

g

Before CHRIST cir. 397.

Matt. 11. 10. Mark 1. 2. Luke 1. 76. & 7. 27. b Isai. 40. 3. e Isai. 63. 9.

d Hag. 2. 7.

3 And he shall sit as a refiner and sai. 1. 25. purifier of silver and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

k

4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in || former years.

1 Pet. 2. 5.

ch. 1. 11. Or, ancient.

1 Zech. 5. 4. James 5. 4,

12.

5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, 'and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and Or,defraud. that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. 6 For I am the LORD, "I change not; 'therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may. be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the "windows of heaven, and t pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

X

P Zech. 1. 3.

4 ch. 1. 6.

Neh. 13. 10, 12.

• Prov. 3. 9, 10.

1 Chron. 26. 20.

2 Chron. 31. 11.

Neh. 10, 38. & 13. 12.

" Gen. 7. 11.

11 And I will rebuke 'the devourer for 2 Chron. 31. your sakes, and he shall not † destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your + Heb. corvine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

rupt.

Ps. 66. 16.
ch. 4. 2.

f Hebr. 3. 13. 8 Ps. 56. 8. Isai. 65. 6. Rev. 20. 12.

h Exod. 19. 5. Deut. 7. 6. Ps. 135. 4. Tit. 2. 14. 1 Pet. 2. 9. || Or, special treasure. Isai. 62. 3. Ps. 103. 13.

Ps. 58. 11.

с

15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness t are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

е

d

g

16 Then they that feared the LORD 'spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

18 'Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

1 God's judgment on the wicked, 2 and his blessing on the good. 4 He exhorteth to the study of the law, 5 and telleth of Elijah's coming and office. OR, behold, the day cometh, that Joel 2 31. shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that_cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

C

e

2 But unto you that fear my name ¶ shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

g

* Obad. 18.

d Amos 2. 9.

⚫ ch. 3. 16. f Luke 1. 78. Ephes.3.14. 2 Pet. 1. 19. Rev. 2. 28.

43.

Mic. 7. 10. Zech. 10. 5.

3 And ye shall tread down the wick-2 Sam. 22. ed; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;

16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ The Fifth was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

Year before the Common Account called Anno Domini. Luke 1. 27. Luke 1. 35.

* Deut. 24. 1.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: "for that which is t conceived in her is of the Holy + Gr. begotGhost.

X

"Luke 1. 35.

ten.

* Luke 1. 31.

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: That is, for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Saviour,
Heb.

y Acts 4. 12.
& 5. 31.
& 13. 23, 38.

* Isai. 7. 14.

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, Or, his which being interpreted is, God with us.

24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife :

a

name shall

be called.

25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he Exod. 13, 2 called his name JESUS.

Luke 2. 7,

21.