Malachi 3:13–4:2

¹³“You have used harsh words against me,” says the Lord. 

“You ask, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 

¹⁴“You have said, ‘It’s pointless to serve God. What do we gain if we meet his standards or if we walk around feeling sorry for what we’ve done? ¹⁵So now we call arrogant people blessed. Not only are evildoers encouraged, they even test God and get away with it.’ ” 

¹⁶Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord paid attention and listened. A book was written in his presence to be a reminder to those who feared the Lord and respected his name. 

¹⁷“They will be mine,” says the Lord of Armies. “On that day I will make them my special possession. I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. ¹⁸Then you will again see the difference between righteous people and wicked people, between the one who serves God and the one who doesn’t serve him. 

4TH CHAPTER^a

The Day of the Lord Brings Judgment

¹“Certainly the day is coming! It will burn like a furnace. All arrogant people and all evildoers will be ⸤like⸥ straw. The day that is coming will burn them up completely,” says the Lord of Armies. “It won’t leave a single root or branch. 

²“The Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings for you people who fear my name. You will go out and leap like calves let out of a stall.