Malachi 3:13-24
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
The Need to Serve God
13 Your words are too much for me, says the Lord.
You ask, “What have we spoken against you?”
14 (A)You have said, “It is useless to serve God;
what do we gain by observing God’s requirements,
And by going about as mourners[a]
before the Lord of hosts?
15 But we call the arrogant blessed;
for evildoers not only prosper
but even test God and escape.”
16 (B)Then those who fear the Lord spoke with one another,
and the Lord listened attentively;
A record book[b] was written before him
of those who fear the Lord and esteem his name.
17 (C)They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts,
my own special possession, on the day when I take action.
And I will have compassion on them,
as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.
18 Then you will again distinguish
between the just and the wicked,
Between the person who serves God,
and the one who does not.
19 (D)For the day is coming, blazing like an oven,
when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble,
And the day that is coming will set them on fire,
leaving them neither root nor branch,
says the Lord of hosts.
20 (E)But for you who fear my name, the sun of justice
will arise with healing in its wings;[c]
And you will go out leaping like calves from the stall
21 and tread down the wicked;
They will become dust under the soles of your feet,
on the day when I take action, says the Lord of hosts.
Moses and Elijah
22 (F)Remember the law of Moses my servant,
whom I charged at Horeb
With statutes and ordinances
for all Israel.
23 (G)Now I am sending to you
Elijah[d] the prophet,
Before the day of the Lord comes,
the great and terrible day;
24 He will turn the heart of fathers to their sons,
and the heart of sons to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike
the land with utter destruction.
Footnotes
- 3:14 As mourners: the adverb translated “as mourners” means something like “with a long face.”
- 3:16 Record book: see note on Ex 32:32.
- 3:20 Wings: a common symbol of the manifestation of a god in the ancient Near East is the winged sun disk found, for example, on premonarchic jar handles. Cf. Nm 6:25; Ps 4:7; 31:17; 34:6; 84:12.
- 3:23 Elijah: taken up in a whirlwind, according to 2 Kgs 2:11. Here his return seems to be foretold. A Jewish tradition interpreted this literally; the gospels saw Elijah in the person of John the Baptist (Mt 11:13–14; 17:10–13; Mk 9:9–13).
Malachi 3:13-4:3
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
13 You have spoken harsh words against me, says the Lord. Yet you say, “How have we spoken against you?” 14 You have said, “It is vain to serve God. What do we profit by keeping his command or by going about as mourners before the Lord of hosts? 15 Now we count the arrogant happy; evildoers not only prosper, but when they put God to the test they escape.”
The Reward of the Faithful
16 Then those who revered the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the Lord and thought on his name. 17 They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as parents spare their children who serve them. 18 Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
The Great Day of the Lord
4 [a] See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.
Footnotes
- Malachi 4:1 Ch 4.1–6 are Ch 3.19–24 in Heb
Malachi 3:13-4:3
Good News Translation
God's Promise of Mercy
13 “You have said terrible things about me,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘What have we said about you?’ 14 You have said, ‘It's useless to serve God. What's the use of doing what he says or of trying to show the Lord Almighty that we are sorry for what we have done? 15 As we see it, proud people are the ones who are happy. Evil people not only prosper, but they test God's patience with their evil deeds and get away with it.’”
16 Then the people who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard what they said. In his presence, there was written down in a book a record of those who feared the Lord and respected him. 17 “They will be my people,” says the Lord Almighty. “On the day when I act, they will be my very own. I will be merciful to them as parents are merciful to the children who serve them. 18 Once again my people will see the difference between what happens to the righteous and to the wicked, to the person who serves me and the one who does not.”
The Day of the Lord Is Coming
4 The Lord Almighty says, “The day is coming when all proud and evil people will burn like straw. On that day they will burn up, and there will be nothing left of them. 2 But for you who obey me, my saving power will rise on you like the sun and bring healing like the sun's rays. You will be as free and happy as calves let out of a stall. 3 On the day when I act, you will overcome the wicked, and they will be like dust under your feet.
Malachi 3:13-4:3
New American Standard Bible
13 “Your words have been [a]arrogant against Me,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is (A)pointless to serve God; and what (B)benefit is it for us that we have done what He required, and that we have walked in mourning before the Lord of armies? 15 So now we (C)call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up, but they also put God to the test and (D)escape punishment.’”
The Book of Remembrance
16 Then those who [b]feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord (E)listened attentively and heard it, and a (F)book of remembrance was written before Him for those who [c]fear the Lord and esteem His name. 17 “And they will be (G)Mine,” says the Lord of armies, “on the (H)day that I [d]prepare My (I)own possession, and I will have compassion for them just as a man (J)has compassion for his own son who serves him.” 18 So you will again (K)distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.
Final Admonition
4 “[e]For behold, the day is coming, (L)burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be (M)chaff; and the day that is coming will (N)set them ablaze,” says the Lord of armies, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branches. 2 But for you who [f]fear My name, the (O)sun of righteousness will rise with (P)healing in its wings; and you will go forth and (Q)frolic like calves from the stall. 3 And you will (R)crush the wicked underfoot, for they will be (S)ashes under the soles of your feet (T)on the day [g]that I am preparing,” says the Lord of armies.
Footnotes
- Malachi 3:13 Lit strong
- Malachi 3:16 Or revere(d)
- Malachi 3:16 Or revere(d)
- Malachi 3:17 Lit make
- Malachi 4:1 Ch 3:19 in Heb
- Malachi 4:2 Or revere
- Malachi 4:3 Or when I act
Malachi 3:13-4:3
New International Version
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)
Judgment and Covenant Renewal
4 [a]“Surely the day is coming;(S) it will burn like a furnace.(T) All the arrogant(U) and every evildoer will be stubble,(V) and the day that is coming will set them on fire,(W)” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch(X) will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name,(Y) the sun of righteousness(Z) will rise with healing(AA) in its rays. And you will go out and frolic(AB) like well-fed calves. 3 Then you will trample(AC) on the wicked; they will be ashes(AD) under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty.
Footnotes
- Malachi 4:1 In Hebrew texts 4:1-6 is numbered 3:19-24.
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