Malachi 3:16-18
New English Translation
16 Then those who respected[a] the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord took notice.[b] A scroll[c] was prepared before him in which were recorded the names of those who respected the Lord and honored his name. 17 “They will belong to me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “in the day when I prepare my own special property.[d] I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you will see that I make a distinction between[e] the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not.
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- Malachi 3:16 tn Or “fear” (so NAB); NRSV “revered”; NCV “honored.”
- Malachi 3:16 tn Heb “heard and listened”; NAB “listened attentively.”
- Malachi 3:16 sn The scroll mentioned here is a “memory book” (סֵפֶר זִכָּרוֹן, sefer zikkaron) in which the Lord keeps an ongoing record of the names of all the redeemed (see Exod 32:32; Isa 4:3; Dan 12:1; Rev 20:12-15).
- Malachi 3:17 sn The Hebrew word סְגֻלָּה (segullah, “special property”) is a technical term referring to all the recipients of God’s redemptive grace, especially Israel (Exod 19:5; Deut 7:6; 14:2; 26:18). The Lord says here that he will not forget even one individual in the day of judgment and reward.
- Malachi 3:18 tn Heb “you will see between.” Cf. NRSV, TEV, NLT “see the difference.”
Malachi 3:16-18
New American Standard Bible
The Book of Remembrance
16 Then those who [a]feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord (A)listened attentively and heard it, and a (B)book of remembrance was written before Him for those who [b]fear the Lord and esteem His name. 17 “And they will be (C)Mine,” says the Lord of armies, “on the (D)day that I [c]prepare My (E)own possession, and I will have compassion for them just as a man (F)has compassion for his own son who serves him.” 18 So you will again (G)distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.
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- Malachi 3:16 Or revere(d)
- Malachi 3:16 Or revere(d)
- Malachi 3:17 Lit make
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