Malachi 3:13-18

Christian Standard Bible

The Righteous and the Wicked

¹³ “Your words against me are harsh,”^(A) says the Lord.

Yet you ask, “What have we spoken against you?”

¹⁴ You have said, “It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping his requirements^(B) and walking mournfully^(C) before the Lord of Armies? ¹⁵ So now we consider the arrogant^(D) to be fortunate.^(E) Not only do those who commit wickedness prosper, they even test God^(F) and escape.”^(G)

¹⁶ At that time those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. The Lord took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance^(H) was written before him for those who feared the Lord and had high regard for his name. ¹⁷ “They will be mine,” says the Lord of Armies,^(I) “my own possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.^{(J) 18} So you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.