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14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped[a] by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord of Heaven’s Armies?[b] 15 So now we consider the arrogant to be blessed; indeed, those who practice evil are successful.[c] In fact, those who challenge[d] God escape!’”

16 Then those who respected[e] the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord took notice.[f] A scroll[g] was prepared before him in which were recorded the names of those who respected the Lord and honored his name.

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Footnotes

  1. Malachi 3:14 tn Heb “What [is the] profit”; NIV “What did we gain.”
  2. Malachi 3:14 sn The people’s public display of self-effacing piety has gone unrewarded by the Lord. The reason, of course, is that it was blatantly hypocritical.
  3. Malachi 3:15 tn Heb “built up” (so NASB); NIV, NRSV “prosper”; NLT “get rich.”
  4. Malachi 3:15 tn Or “test”; NRSV, CEV “put God to the test.”
  5. Malachi 3:16 tn Or “fear” (so NAB); NRSV “revered”; NCV “honored.”
  6. Malachi 3:16 tn Heb “heard and listened”; NAB “listened attentively.”
  7. 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).

14 “You have said, ‘It is futile(A) to serve(B) God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements(C) and going about like mourners(D) before the Lord Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant(E) blessed. Certainly evildoers(F) prosper,(G) 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.(H) A scroll(I) of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared(J) the Lord and honored his name.

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