3:5
Notice that Good News Translation begins this verse with the phrase:
The Lord Almighty says. (Good News Translation)
In the Hebrew text, these words are at the end of 3:5 (as in the Berean Standard Bible). Good News Translation moved these words to the beginning of 3:5 to make it clear that it was the LORD who was speaking here, not Malachi. Consider whether it may be necessary to do the same in your language.
3:5a
Then: The Hebrew conjunction w- is translated by the Berean Standard Bible as Then. Here it introduces a new paragraph. The events which the LORD described in this paragraph would happen before the events of the preceding paragraph or at the same time. You will need to translate the connection in an appropriate way to avoid confusion in your language. English versions translate it with expressions like “then,” “at that time” or “so.” Some versions omit it. Use what would be natural in your language in this context.
I will draw near to you for judgment: That is, I will come to you, in order to judge you. This judgment would be an answer to the accusation of the people in 2:17, “Where is the God of justice?”
3:5b
And I will be a swift witness: Other ways to express this are:
I will quickly condemn. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I will act as a relentless accuser. (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
Do not use a term which would imply that the LORD was simply a witness, whose testimony would be compared with that of others.
3:5e
perjurers: The Hebrew expression which the Berean Standard Bible translates as perjurers means to swear that a false statement is really true.
3:5f–g
defraud: The Hebrew word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as defraud in 3:5g applies to the widow and orphan in 3:5f also. The word means “to wrong, cheat, oppress.”
3:5i
In 3:5c–h the LORD gave a list of the categories of people whom he will judge. 3:5i is not simply a continuation of this list; it applies to each of the groups of people listed in 3:5c–h.
do not fear Me: The Hebrew word moraʾ which the Berean Standard Bible translates as fear can also mean “reverence” or “awe.” It is translated in many English versions as “respect.”
3:5j
says the LORD of Hosts: This speech clause occurs many times throughout the text. The repetition emphasizes the fact that this is a direct message from the LORD. See the note on 3:1f. See also note 1 in “Literary structure and recurring features in Malachi” in the Introduction.
Notice that in the Berean Standard Bible this clause occurs after the speech. This is good English style. You should place it wherever is natural in your language.
the LORD of Hosts: This special title for the LORD occurs twenty-four times in Malachi. See the note on 3:1f. See also the discussion of this term in the Key biblical terms in the book of Malachi section of the Introduction.
General Comment on 3:5b–j
As stated above, 3:5i applies to each of the groups of people listed in 3:5c–h. It is not simply another category of people whom the LORD will judge. In some languages it will be clearer if the verse is re-ordered. The Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures re-orders this verse to show this clearly:
5b and I will act as a relentless accuser 5i against those who have no fear of Me: 5c Who practice sorcery, 5d who commit adultery, 5e who swear falsely, 5g who cheat laborers of their hire, 5f and who subvert [the cause of] the widow, orphan, 5h and stranger, 5j said the Lord of Hosts. (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
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