# Now you keep asking the face of God, that he may be gracious to us
Malachi is no longer speaking for God. He is talking directly to the Israelites; he is criticizing them for daring to think that God will have mercy on them.
They were speaking nicely to God hoping to convince him to stop being angry with them. Alternate translation: "keep begging God to be gracious" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche]])
Here Yahweh is asking a question in order to make a statement of rebuke. Alternate translation: "if you offer unacceptable offerings, he will certainly not lift up your faces." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom]])
Lifting up someone's face refers to accepting him with favor. Alternate translation: "would he accept any of you with favor" or "would he agree to help any of you" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom]])