The People Complain Harshly

13 “Your(A) words have been [a]harsh against Me,”
Says the Lord,
“Yet you say,
‘What have we spoken against You?’
14 (B)You have said,
‘It is useless to serve God;
What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance,
And that we have walked as mourners
Before the Lord of hosts?
15 So now (C)we call the proud blessed,
For those who do wickedness are [b]raised up;
They even (D)tempt God and go free.’ ”

A Book of Remembrance

16 Then those (E)who feared the Lord (F)spoke to one another,
And the Lord listened and heard them;
So (G)a book of remembrance was written before Him
For those who fear the Lord
And who [c]meditate on His name.

17 “They(H) shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts,
“On the day that I make them My (I)jewels.[d]
And (J)I will spare them
As a man spares his own son who serves him.”
18 (K)Then you shall again discern
Between the righteous and the wicked,
Between one who serves God
And one who does not serve Him.

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Footnotes

  1. Malachi 3:13 Lit. strong
  2. Malachi 3:15 Lit. built
  3. Malachi 3:16 Or esteem
  4. Malachi 3:17 Lit. special treasure

Israel Speaks Arrogantly Against God

13 “You have spoken arrogantly(A) against me,” says the Lord.

“Yet you ask,(B) ‘What have we said against you?’

14 “You have said, ‘It is futile(C) to serve(D) God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements(E) and going about like mourners(F) before the Lord Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant(G) blessed. Certainly evildoers(H) prosper,(I) and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’”

The Faithful Remnant

16 Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard.(J) A scroll(K) of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared(L) the Lord and honored his name.

17 “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my(M) treasured possession.(N) I will spare(O) them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son(P) who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous(Q) and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.(R)

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