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Malachi 3:14
New Living Translation
Malachi 3:14
New Living Translation
14 “You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins?
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Malachi 3:14
New International Version
Malachi 3:14
New International Version
14 “You have said, ‘It is futile(A) to serve(B) God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements(C) and going about like mourners(D) before the Lord Almighty?
Isaiah 58:3
New Living Translation
Isaiah 58:3
New Living Translation
3 ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.
‘Why aren’t you impressed?
We have been very hard on ourselves,
and you don’t even notice it!’
“I will tell you why!” I respond.
“It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.
Even while you fast,
you keep oppressing your workers.
Isaiah 58:3
New International Version
Isaiah 58:3
New International Version
3 ‘Why have we fasted,’(A) they say,
‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled(B) ourselves,
and you have not noticed?’(C)
“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please(D)
and exploit all your workers.
Psalm 73:8-13
New Living Translation
Psalm 73:8-13
New Living Translation
8 They scoff and speak only evil;
in their pride they seek to crush others.
9 They boast against the very heavens,
and their words strut throughout the earth.
10 And so the people are dismayed and confused,
drinking in all their words.
11 “What does God know?” they ask.
“Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”
12 Look at these wicked people—
enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
13 Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?
Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
Psalm 73:8-13
New International Version
Psalm 73:8-13
New International Version
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;(A)
with arrogance(B) they threaten oppression.(C)
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.[a]
11 They say, “How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything?”
Footnotes
- Psalm 73:10 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
Job 35:3
New Living Translation
Job 35:3
New Living Translation
3 For you also ask, ‘What’s in it for me?
What’s the use of living a righteous life?’
Job 35:3
New International Version
Job 35:3
New International Version
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Footnotes
- Job 35:3 Or you
Zechariah 7:3-6
New Living Translation
Zechariah 7:3-6
New Living Translation
3 They were to ask this question of the prophets and the priests at the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: “Should we continue to mourn and fast each summer on the anniversary of the Temple’s destruction,[a] as we have done for so many years?”
4 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me this message in reply: 5 “Say to all your people and your priests, ‘During these seventy years of exile, when you fasted and mourned in the summer and in early autumn,[b] was it really for me that you were fasting? 6 And even now in your holy festivals, aren’t you eating and drinking just to please yourselves?
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- 7:3 Hebrew mourn and fast in the fifth month. The Temple had been destroyed in the fifth month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar (August 586 B.c.); see 2 Kgs 25:8.
- 7:5 Hebrew fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months. The fifth month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar usually occurs within the months of July and August. The seventh month usually occurs within the months of September and October; both the Day of Atonement and the Festival of Shelters were celebrated in the seventh month.
Zechariah 7:3-6
New International Version
Zechariah 7:3-6
New International Version
3 by asking the priests of the house of the Lord Almighty and the prophets, “Should I mourn(A) and fast in the fifth(B) month, as I have done for so many years?”
4 Then the word of the Lord Almighty came to me: 5 “Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted(C) and mourned in the fifth and seventh(D) months for the past seventy years,(E) was it really for me that you fasted? 6 And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?(F)
Zephaniah 1:12
New Living Translation
Zephaniah 1:12
New Living Translation
12 “I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners
to punish those who sit complacent in their sins.
They think the Lord will do nothing to them,
either good or bad.
Zephaniah 1:12
New International Version
Zephaniah 1:12
New International Version
Joel 2:12
New Living Translation
Joel 2:12
New Living Translation
A Call to Repentance
12 That is why the Lord says,
“Turn to me now, while there is time.
Give me your hearts.
Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Joel 2:12
New International Version
Joel 2:12
New International Version
Rend Your Heart
Job 34:9
New Living Translation
Job 34:9
New Living Translation
9 He has even said, ‘Why waste time
trying to please God?’
Job 34:9
New International Version
Job 34:9
New International Version
9 For he says, ‘There is no profit
in trying to please God.’(A)
James 4:9
New Living Translation
James 4:9
New Living Translation
9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.
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James 4:9
New International Version
James 4:9
New International Version
9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.(A)
Job 22:17
New Living Translation
Job 22:17
New Living Translation
17 For they said to God, ‘Leave us alone!
What can the Almighty do to us?’
Job 22:17
New International Version
Job 22:17
New International Version
17 They said to God, ‘Leave us alone!
What can the Almighty do to us?’(A)
Job 21:14-15
New Living Translation
Job 21:14-15
New Living Translation
14 And yet they say to God, ‘Go away.
We want no part of you and your ways.
15 Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him?
What good will it do us to pray?’
Job 21:14-15
New International Version
Job 21:14-15
New International Version
New Living Translation (NLT)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.