¹⁸ Mortal, the house of Israel has become dross to me; all of them, silver,^[a] bronze, tin, iron, and lead. In the smelter they have become dross.^(A)

²⁰ In a large house there are utensils not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for special^[a] use, some for ordinary.^{[b](A) 21} All who cleanse themselves of the things I have mentioned^[c] will become special^[d] utensils, dedicated and useful to the owner of the house, ready for every good work.^(B)

² But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like washers’ soap;^{(A) 3} he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.^[a](B)

⁷ so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.^(A)