Old Testament
The Book of Malachi
The Book of Malachi is the forty-fourth of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 4 chapters and 55 verses. The Douay-Rheims calls it Malachias.
About Malachi
About Malachi · Prophetic disputation
Malachi — the name means my messenger — closes the Old Testament with a series of blunt arguments between God and a post-exilic community grown bored with him: tired priests, cheap sacrifices, broken marriages, and the weary sneer that serving God is useless. Nothing certain is known of the author. The book was written to rekindle reverence, and it looks forward to a messenger preparing the Lord's way and to Elijah coming before the great day — the very texts the Gospels apply to John the Baptist.
| Testament | Old Testament — book 44 of 46, 44 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 4 |
| Verses | 55, as Bless numbers them |
| In the Douay-Rheims | Malachias |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 4 chapters · 10 notes |
| Catechism | 6 paragraphs cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 4 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
Malachi 1
14 versesGod reproaches the Jews with their ingratitude: and the priests for not offering pure sacrifices. He will accept of the sacrifice that shall be offered in every place among the Gentiles.
Malachi 2
17 versesThe priests are sharply reproved for neglecting their covenant. The evil of marrying with idolaters: and too easily putting away their wives.
Malachi 3
18 versesChrist shall come to his temple, and purify the priesthood. They that continue in their evil ways shall be punished: but true penitents shall receive a blessing.
Malachi 4
6 versesThe judgment of the wicked, and reward of the just. An exhortation to observe the law. Elias shall come for the conversion of the Jews.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, Malachi is read at the principal Mass on 3 days in the US calendar. The next 7 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent | First Reading | Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 | |
| Presentation of the Lord | First Reading | Malachi 3:1-4 | |
| computed | Our Lady of the Rosary | First Reading | Malachi 3:13-20b |
| computed | Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent | First Reading | Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 |
| computed | Presentation of the Lord | First Reading | Malachi 3:1-4 |
| computed | Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Malachi 3:19-20a |
| computed | Saturday of the Third Week of Advent | First Reading | Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.