Malachi 4

The great day when God will judge people

1 ‘The great day when I come to judge people will certainly happen. Punishment will come like the great fire of a hot oven. It will destroy all the proud people who do evil things. It will completely destroy them, like a fire that destroys dry grass. Nothing will remain.’

That is what the Lord Almighty says.

2 ‘But it will be different for you who respect my name. On that day, I will come to make you well again, like the sun that rises to shine on you. I will show that you are right. When that happens, you will be very happy. You will jump up and down like calves when someone lets them go free. 3 Then you will walk over the wicked people. They will be like ashes under your feet. That will happen on the day when I do these things.’

That is what the Lord Almighty says.

4 ‘Remember the laws that I gave to my servant Moses at Mount Sinai. Those rules and commands were for all the Israelites to obey.

5 Look! I will send my prophet Elijah to you. He will come before that great day of the Lord arrives. That will be a day that makes people afraid. 6 He will speak my message, so that fathers and their children return to each other as friends. Then I will not have to come and bring punishment on the land.’