Malachi 3:13-18

Common English Bible

¹³You have spoken harshly about me,
says the Lord;
        but you say,
            “What have we spoken about you?”
¹⁴You said,
    “Serving God is useless.
    What do we gain by keeping his obligation
            or by walking around as mourners
            before the Lord of heavenly forces?
¹⁵So now we consider the arrogant fortunate.
        Moreover, those doing evil are built up;
            they test God and escape.”

The scroll of remembrance

¹⁶Then those revering the Lord,
    each and every one, spoke among themselves.
        The Lord paid attention and listened to them.
Then a scroll of remembrance was written before the Lord
        about those revering the Lord,
            the ones meditating on his name.
¹⁷On the day that I am preparing,
says the Lord of heavenly forces,
        they will be my special possession.
        I will spare them just as parents spare a child who serves them.
¹⁸You will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked,
        between those serving God and those not serving him.