The Lord's Love for Israel

^2 (A)“I have loved you,” says the Lord. ^(B)But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau ^(C)Jacob's brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet ^(D)I have loved Jacob

^14 (A)But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord ^(B)was witness between you and the wife of your youth, ^(C)to whom ^(D)you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

The Messenger of the Lord

^17 (A)You have wearied the Lord with your words. ^(B)But you say, “How have we wearied him?” ^(C)By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, ^(D)“Where is the God of justice?”

^7 (A)From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. ^(B)Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. ^(C)But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ ⁸ Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. ^(D)But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ ^(E)In your tithes and contributions.

^13 (A)“Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. ^(B)But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’